Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Financing Fire Equipment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Spanish Fort approves $2 million warrant to finance E‑ONE pumper and buy land near Spirit Park
Summary
The Spanish Fort City Council adopted an ordinance authorizing a general obligation warrant of up to $2 million to United Bank to finance the purchase of property adjacent to Spirit Park and to help fund the purchase of an E‑ONE custom pumper truck; all measures passed by roll call vote.
The Spanish Fort City Council on a unanimous roll call approved an ordinance authorizing the issuance of a general obligation warrant of up to $2,000,000 to United Bank, to be used to buy parcels adjacent to Spirit Park and to finance the purchase of an E‑ONE custom pumper truck.
The action came after a brief public hearing that produced no speakers and a motion to suspend the rules for immediate consideration. Mr. Connor, a city staff member who presented the ordinance, said the warrant "is to purchase certain real property or parcels of real property, adjacent to Spirit Park," and to buy an E‑ONE fire pumper. The ordinance sets a 10‑year term with an interest rate of 3.85 percent.
Why it matters: Council members said the purchases are part of an effort to maintain city infrastructure as Spanish Fort grows, and the financing package will allow the city to take advantage of a cash discount on the truck purchase. Mr. Connor told the council the Sunbelt Fire proposal for the pumper gives a discount of $85,560 if the city pays up front; council members said part of the warrant financing would be used to make that payment and outfit the truck.
Details of the truck purchase were approved in a separate resolution the same evening. The resolution author authorizing the agreement with Sunbelt Fire covers an E‑ONE custom pumper with a listed purchase price of $919,531 and a stated lead‑out time described in the proposal as "approximately 1,050 calendar days." The contract noted the manufacturer reserves the right to make model and engineering changes; one council member asked whether that could increase cost.
Council also approved a separate resolution (added to the agenda) authorizing the mayor to enter an agreement to buy a parcel in the Battle Inn subdivision owned by W. A. Fries and Sons Timber and Land Company, Inc., for $365,000. Mr. Connor explained the parcel adjoins the United Bank property the city is under contract to purchase and said the recently approved warrant funds would be used to acquire that parcel.
All measures described here were adopted by voice/roll‑call votes with council members Smith, Gustafson, Perry, Winn and Prabner and the mayor voting yes on the motions to adopt. The ordinance and accompanying resolutions were introduced and adopted the same night after suspending the rules for immediate consideration.
Mayor (name not specified) framed the vote as part of maintaining infrastructure amid steady growth, saying, "We're growing at a good rate. We're growing at a 2.3 to 2.5 annual rate," and described the purchases as ways to keep up with infrastructure needs. The mayor also thanked public works and first responders for recent storm response work earlier in the meeting.
