(BENTON, IL) — The Benton City Council took no action on a request by Fire Chief Shane Cockrum to replace the fire department’s aerial truck at Monday night’s meeting. The truck is over 30 years old, and Cockrum told the council it’s about one breakdown from being out of service. Cockrum wanted the city to agree to a lease agreement for an aerial truck that would cost $800,000. He says that price would only be good for a month, and the city would not have to make a payment for the first year. Cockrum went on to say that at the end of 15 years, the city would pay off the lease for $1. The annual payment for the truck would be $66,000. The council’s overall view on the issue is that they have nothing against the fire department, but don’t want the city to go into more debt due to several projects already on the table. They decided to take up this issue in the future when city finances get better.