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Local rescue squads will be getting new equipment and vehicles.

Newberry County Council voted Wednesday to award an $800,945 bid to Peterbilt to purchase four rescue trucks and to spend $75,000 on rescue equipment.

The new trucks will go to Pomaria, Newberry County, Whitmire and Prosperity rescue squads and replace old trucks that were not built to handle the weight of the equipment being hauled, according to Newberry County Rescue Squad Assistant Chief Chris Johnson.

Johnson told council the new truck will be “much, much better than what we have now and allow for future growth.”

The old trucks that are being replaced will be transferred to some of the county’s volunteer fire stations where they will not be required to carry as much weight.

The four truck range in cost with all around $200,000 each but each truck will be made to suit the needs of the squad.

Also the county will purchase some 23 pieces of equipment for the seven rescue squads.

The equipment ranges form generators to hose reels to oxygen monitors to a projector and screen to a boat and trailer.

Also the rescue squads will be getting software for the transmission of 12 lead monitoring to hospitals. This will allow the rescue squad members to send EKG’s to hospitals while on the scene of a call or en route.

County council also voted to spend $40,000 to replace the asphalt in front of the Maybinton Fire Station. The asphalt has worn under the weight of the fire trucks and there are ruts 12 to 14 inches deep in it, according to councilman Edgar Baker.

“It’s in bad shape and if we have bad whether there could be a bad situation,” said county council chair Buddy Livingston.

In other business discussed by council:

• No one spoke at a public hearing for Komatsu to get tax credits for investments made at the plant. Third reading to grant the tax credits will be held on Jan. 18.

• Livingston was elected to be the county council chairman and Kirksey Koon as vice-chair.