Portage is borrowing $5.8 million, primarily to pay for police and fire vehicles and paving.

The City Council approved issuing the general obligation bond on Tuesday.

Among the purchases is a new ladder truck ordered last year for the fire department. The truck is expected to be delivered next year.

“We know it’s expensive; however, our current ladder truck is 26, 27 years old,” Fire Chief Chris Crail said.

The truck it’s replacing isn’t expected to pass certification soon, so it will have to put it out of service until the new one arrives, Crail said.

“It is an extremely important asset to have for the city,” especially in a city with as many industrial buildings as the city has, he said.

The city scrambled to order the fire truck last year, arranging for the Redevelopment Commissio

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