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Weatherford approves two new brush trucks; council conditions one on 4x4 confirmation
Summary
The City Council approved purchases for a Type 3 brush truck for Station 4 and a Type 6 brush truck for Station 5, including a 10% contingency and long lead-time concerns; one approval was made contingent on verification the chassis is 4x4.
Weatherford City Council on Tuesday approved purchases of two brush firefighting vehicles aimed at replacing aging apparatus and equipping a planned new station, while pressing staff for technical clarifications and cost protections. The council approved purchase of a Type 3 4x4 crew-cab brush truck for Fire Station 4 at a not-to-exceed price of $334,334 and a Type 6 Ford F-550 4x4 brush truck for new Station 5 at a not-to-exceed price of $258,290. The council’s approval of the Station 4 truck included a motion that the purchase be contingent on verification that the buy-board order correctly specifies a 4x4 chassis.
Chief Peacock, Fire Chief, told council the 2007 brush truck being replaced has reached the end of its 20-year useful life and is showing rust and wear from off-road use. He said the department seeks professionally built apparatus rather than hand‑built conversions and described a design choice in the new brush trucks: an independently driven pump (a pony motor) so the pump can operate even if the vehicle engine stops during an incident. “That’s one of the safety things implemented into them,” Chief Peacock said, explaining the choice.
Council members pressed staff on delivery timelines and price volatility. Chief Peacock and staff said chassis and body production queues mean a typical delivery window can span 18–24 months; because of that lag the final delivered truck will often be a later model year (a chassis ordered in 2025 may arrive in 2026). To guard against price increases during long builds staff included a 10% contingency in the purchase budgets. Councilman expressed concern about long lead times and urged regional action among municipalities to address shortages and price escalation.
Councilors also asked staff to reconcile a discrepancy between the agenda text (which listed a 4x4) and a BuyBoard order worksheet that listed a 4x2 chassis. Councilmember Heidi Wilder moved approval of the Station 4 truck contingent on confirmation of a 4x4 chassis; Mayor Pro Tem Zach Smith seconded. That motion passed. The Station 5 truck — intended for the new Station 5 and described by staff as a new piece rather than a replacement — was approved separately; staff said its chassis would be a Ford and that lead-time once ordered is typically 120–150 days for that chassis, with additional queue time for body and equipment installation.
Staff and council discussed the vehicle resale/retirement plan. The older 2007 truck will be auctioned, while an earlier replaced vehicle will be retained as a reserve. Chief Peacock said apparatus manufacturers and upfitters vary regionally; the department selected a vendor (Wildfire Supply) with an established regional record and lower price compared with some competitors. Council emphasized the purchases are budgeted and necessary for public safety but urged continued oversight given long delivery times and the contingency language.
The council voted to approve both items and directed staff to confirm technical specifications and to report back on any outstanding procurement clarifications.
