WARREN, Ohio - On Wednesday, Warren City Council approved the purchase of a new fire truck, costing $595,439.00.

"It was critical for the safety of our citizens," said Doug Franklin, Mayor of Warren to 21 News after the meeting. 

"It will be a rescue engine so it also has rescue capability," said Ken Nussle, Warren Fire Chief. "It will have jaws of life, cutters, rams, airbags and water rescue equipment.

The new truck replaces the Parkman Road fire truck that was purchased back in 1992. 

"I was a new council member when we voted on the purchase of the one that's retiring today and that was nearly 30 years ago," Mayor Franklin said. "So it shows you how long it's been serving our citizens."

"We've put a lot of money into repairs these last two years," explained Nussle, "more than $30,000 into the truck that are more than just routine repairs."

While the fire department's goal is to purchase a total of three new trucks, another concern is where the funding will come from. The city is banking on American Rescue Plan funds, but they still aren't sure if the purchase will qualify.

"The money is here but the rules on how we can spend it aren't exactly here yet," said Larry Larson, First Ward Councilman. "$600,000 that we still have in our account that we don't have to use for the general fund," explained Larson, if the ARP money was approved. 

Mayor Franklin said the city will soon allow residents to go online, where they can give their opinion on where they want to spend $29,750,000 of the ARP funding Warren is receiving.

"We're launching on August 1st, a website where people will be able to go in online and talk about their priorities to induce public engagement on this whole process. At the end of the day, it has to be a community based initiative that we spend this money on," Franklin said. 

Council also passed an ordinance that replaces an existing ordinance with a more extensive law that increases the punishment for animal abandonment offenses.