Fire chief presents ladder-truck replacement plan; committee okays vendor outreach

Interim Fire Chief Jason Martin told the Carthage City Council public safety committee on Feb. 25 that the department needs to replace a 1998 ladder truck and recommended purchasing a 2025-or-newer custom-chassis ladder truck as a primary aerial unit.

Martin said the vehicle he found would cost $1,443,000 after adding a vinyl wrap in Carthage’s colors, tools, ground equipment and hose. That figure was presented as $127,000 less than a previously budgeted amount discussed in the committee; the committee record shows a prior projection of $1,500,000 for the capital project. “As we cannot purchase this until the 2026–2027 fiscal year, the committee unanimously voted for Chief Martin to contact the wrap company to determine the longevity of the vinyl wrap and also the fire truck vendor, Banner Fire Equipment, to identify if they would accept an intent to purchase agreement,” the committee report states.

The committee also heard a broader 2026–27 capital request from Chief Martin that included additional personnel and equipment replacements. Police Chief Bill Hawkins presented capital requests for the police department as well, including requests for additional officers and replacement police vehicles; those items will be discussed at a departmental budgeting work session scheduled for March 5.

Councilmembers and committee members did not vote to purchase the truck at the meeting; the action recorded is direction for staff to investigate vendor terms and wrap longevity and to report back as part of budget discussions before purchase in the 2026–27 fiscal year.