The city's fire chief briefed the City Council on Aug. 25 about the department's aging apparatus, current replacement funding in the capital improvement plan and a time-limited purchase opportunity. "Engine 11 is currently 22 years old," the chief said, and "Today's apparatus are about 2 times that amount, ranging between 750,000 and $1,200,000." He said lead times for custom builds range from 13 months to four years and that a manufacturer's stock truck could be available in weeks.

Why it matters: Long lead times and rising prices mean the city must plan purchases years ahead; choosing stock or spec units now could reduce future cost exposure. The chief told council that the CIP includes about $3,000,000 allocated over time for replacing Engines 11 and 21 and that an HME offering could yield significant savings by using engines manufactured to pre-2027 emissions standards.

What the chief presented: The department has three frontline engines (Engine 11, 21 and 31), two tenders (tankers), rescue units and support vehicles. Engine 11 (2003) was refurbished in 2019 and had a rebuilt engine in 2021. The chief reviewed NFPA best-practice guidance for apparatus replacement, noting current recommendations that frontline apparatus generally be replaced before 15 to 20 years in many communities. He explained lead-time differences between custom builders (2.5'.5 to four years) and stock/spec lines (weeks to 13 months) and described HME's current sale of pre-2027-emissions engines as a possible near-term savings.

Council questions and direction: Council members asked about operational fit and customization limits for the HME and Pierce options. The chief said the HME unit they viewed was similar in size and compartment layout to the city's Engine 11 and would require only a pump-compartment heater and a front intake for rural drafting. "It was very close."

Council did not vote on a purchase. Instead members generally supported further exploration: "I agree. I think we should get more information on this," one council member said. Council asked the chief to obtain additional quotes (the chief said he had a meeting scheduled with Fire Safety USA and would contact Rosenbauer and Rosenbauer dealers) and to return with updated and additional proposals at a future meeting, with an anticipated informational update by the council's Sept. 22 meeting.

Direction versus formal action: No binding procurement or appropriation decision was made at the work session. The council directed staff to gather more written specifications, updated quotes and additional supplier information and to bring that material back for council consideration. The chief said HME requested direction by December for the engine inventory savings to be available.

Ending: Staff will collect additional quotes and specifications, provide a detailed cost and specification comparison, and return to council with updated information to support a purchase decision.