PETERSBURG, Va. – Several Petersburg City emergency response vehicles are in need of repairs, and the news comes a week after officials severed ties with the company that handles fleet maintenance.
A fire truck and ambulance have been broken down and on Wednesday afternoon, a reserve fire truck used by the city also broke down.
The biggest engine at the Market Street Fire Station and an ambulance at the Farmer's Street Fire Station now await repairs.
A city spokesperson said that a new fleet manager is working with a vendor to get a quote for repairs on the first fire truck and ambulance.
Petersburg has an aging fleet, and had ordered three new fire trucks, which cost about $2.1 million.
But the city faces numerous fiscal challenges.
City Hall is looking into available funding for emergency vehicles, but it is unknown how the money will be acquired.
Petersburg's Interim City Manager Dironna Moore Belton stunned a crowd of Petersburg taxpayers at a special council meeting Tuesday, admitting a city shutdown may be necessary this year if short term financing is not received as soon as possible.
If city shut down, only the public safety services would remain.
Petersburg has relied on that short term financing for years and now it's possible they won't qualify for it.
“Without it, we have no chance,” Vice Mayor Samuel Parham said of short-term financing.
For that reason, the council voted 6-1 in favor of cutting $12 million from the budget, but what exactly will be cut remains up in the air.
“We do have leeway on what's going to be cut and what's not going to be cut,” said Parham.
"That's terrible, especially if they don't have the money to fix it,” said Randus Ayres, a concerned citizen.
"It's sad, just going down the drain,” said Shanellie Davis, of her city.
