Cities Helping Cities
Morgantown Mayor Billy Phelps presented Horse Cave Mayor Randall Curry with a handmade wooden fire truck as a token of appreciation for the city’s donation of a ladder fire truck to the Morgantown Fire Department. PHOTO | Mayor Billy Phelps Facebook Page.
Mary Beth Sallee
Jobe Publishing
Horse Cave and Morgantown are two separate cities in two separate counties, with nearly 60 miles between them. But distance knows no boundaries when Kentucky cities work together in partnership and a willingness to help a neighbor in need.
At the Horse Cave City Council meeting on May 11, Morgantown Mayor Billy Phelps and Fire Chief Dustin Embry were in attendance to personally thank Horse Cave leaders for donating a ladder fire truck to the Morgantown Fire Department.
Phelps said Morgantown had been searching for a ladder truck to help meet the growing needs of the city and nearby industries, but the cost of purchasing a new one was simply out of reach.
“I don’t know if you’ve priced a ladder truck lately, but you’re looking somewhere close to $300,000,” Phelps said. “It’s just outrageous.”
Phelps explained that after reaching out across the region for possible leads, Horse Cave Mayor Randall Curry immediately stepped forward with an offer to help.
“Mayor Curry literally the same day stepped up and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got one. We can help you,’” Phelps said.
Mayor Curry said the ladder truck had been surplus equipment for several years after the city purchased a newer model. Curry also said the Horse Cave Fire Department also provides mutual aid to neighboring departments when needed and said the transfer to Morgantown reflects the partnership between Kentucky cities.
“We are proud to be able to offer an inter government transfer to the City of Morgantown for them to better serve their community and citizens of their town,” Curry shared. “’Cities helping Cities’ is part of our pipeline as members of Kentucky League Cities.”
According to Phelps, the donated 1980 ladder truck was exactly what Morgantown needed. But rather than sending a simple thank you note, Phelps and Embry wanted to personally express their gratitude to the City of Horse Cave.
Mayor Billy Phelps shows the wooden fire truck which was inscribed with the words, “With thanks from the City of Morgantown,” along with the phrase “Cities Helping Cities,” in appreciation for Horse Cave’s donation of a ladder fire truck to the Morgantown Fire Department. PHOTO | Mayor Billy Phelps Facebook Page.
“I wanted to personally let you know what it means to our community,” Phelps said. “You guys went above and beyond what one city does for another city.”
During the meeting, Phelps and Embry presented Mayor Curry and the Horse Cave City Council with a handmade wooden fire truck as a token of appreciation. The custom piece was inscribed with the words, “With thanks from the City of Morgantown,” along with the phrase “Cities Helping Cities.”
Phelps acknowledged the partnership between Kentucky communities and said the donation was a reminder of what can happen when cities work together to help one another.
“And if there’s anything the City of Morgantown can ever do, don’t hesitate to ask,” Phelps said. “We’re in deep gratitude.”
