Council approves rental of garbage trucks after weekend fire

A Saturday morning fire created a “total loss” of two City of Enterprise garbage trucks but pickup service will not be interrupted, Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell said in a special called emergency city council meeting Tuesday. The council met in an emergency meeting Tuesday morning to approve the rental of two garbage trucks from Big Truck Rentals.

The trucks will be delivered from Irving, Texas, and Arnold, Mo., and should arrive by Thursday, Boswell told the council.

The fire apparently began under the cab of one of the garbage trucks parked at the city’s Public Works Department Compound on Lee Street at about 8:30 a.m. Feb. 7, according to Enterprise Fire Chief Byron Herring.

Initial investigation indicates that the fuel tank of that truck melted, releasing fuel, which ignited the second garbage truck. Herring said that his investigation indicates that it was an electrical fire but that investigation continues.

“We feel like the trucks are a complete loss and I consulted with our fire chief and he feels the same way,” Boswell said. “We are making do with the equipment that we do have but it is creating stress and strain and we do need two trucks.”

Boswell said the damage was reported to the city’s insurance company and with the replacement trucks rented through insurance money, it should be garbage pickup service as usual for the citizens of Enterprise.

“This will address the immediate issue at hand and that is to ensure garbage pickup on the regular routes,” Boswell said. The trucks will be rented for 30 days, renewable after 30 days.

“Garbage is one of the major services of our city,” Boswell said. “We have some of the finest employees in the world simply because they care about what they do.”