At a Tomball City Council workshop the fire chief presented a proposal to contract with Simmons Martin Emergency Group for a Pierce Custom Velocity 100-foot mid-mount aerial ladder truck to replace the 2007 apparatus. "The current build time on these is 48 months," Chief Zaccora said, and staff estimated delivery and invoicing would occur in 2029. "There would be no funds expended between 2025 and 2029," the chief said.

The manufacturer’s quoted price was described in the workshop as just under $2.7 million. City staff told the council the city had applied for a federal appropriations grant through Congressman Hunt of roughly $1.5 million; the grant had been approved earlier but was removed and has been re-applied for. Staff said the city could lock the quoted price if it places a purchase order now and that the build slot could otherwise be pushed back; consultants cautioned that a September 1 pricing date could avoid a scheduled increase.

Why it matters: the ladder truck is a high-cost, high-capability apparatus that serves Station 1 — described in the meeting as the busiest city station — and factors into response capacity, insurance/ISO considerations and future capital planning.

Funding and procurement options discussed included using a dedicated reserve funded from sales-tax overages, a lease-purchase option, or spreading appropriations across multiple budget years. Staff warned that current interest-rate conditions make lease-purchase less attractive than cash funding; they also described contractual milestones during the build that could create cancellation liabilities if the city canceled after certain components (chassis, major systems) were committed.

Operational and lifecycle details discussed: staff said ladder trucks are typically retired after 20–25 years depending on condition and usage. The 2007 ladder at Station 1 is heavily used; staff described daily deployments for non-medical calls including vehicle accidents and fire alarms. To reduce wear, the department previously added a smaller squad vehicle to respond to many medical calls so the ladder truck can be preserved for suppression and technical rescue tasks.

Council members asked about alternatives and timing. Several suggested building a dedicated reserve from sales-tax surpluses; one council member proposed contributing roughly $700,000 annually to restore a prior supplemental apparatus contribution. Staff noted they had previously made a supplemental contribution to the apparatus-replacement fund and had adjusted that contribution when federal support was expected. Insurance will cover most of the estimated $260,000 repair cost for a ladder truck damaged in a February accident; that repair is ongoing.

Staff also clarified that while the city partners with Emergency Services District (ESD) units that buy apparatus for other stations, the replacement discussed in the workshop is a City purchase for Station 1 and Station 2 operations. The item was scheduled for council action on the regular agenda following the workshop so that the council could formalize a procurement direction.

No formal procurement award was approved during the workshop; the conversation was workshop-level discussion and direction regarding funding strategy and contract timing.