Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Vehicles Rescue topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances purchase of Ford F-350 utility vehicle for fire/rescue operations
Summary
Ordinance 25-14 to purchase a Ford Super Duty F-350XL for the fire department’s utility fleet was advanced. Staff said the vehicle replaces an older utility pickup used for towing the technical-rescue trailer and will be funded from the EMS billing fund as part of a multi-year vehicle replacement plan.
The Finance Committee advanced Ordinance 25-14, authorizing the purchase of a Ford Super Duty F-350XL as a utility vehicle for fire/rescue operations.
Staff said the F-350 will replace an older utility pickup (Car 39) that is roughly 13 years old and used heavily for hours on scene and towing the technical rescue trailer. The vehicle is intended to provide increased towing capacity and storage (saddlebags) for rescue equipment. Staff said the purchase was included in the five-year capital plan and will be funded from the EMS billing fund (Fund 781) with no general-fund impact.
The nut graf: The purchase fits the city’s vehicle-replacement schedule and is intended to improve utility, towing ability and on-scene functionality for the tech-rescue team, which is increasingly active regionally.
Council members asked about emissions and diesel alternatives; staff replied that diesel is used for heavy emergency apparatus but not preferred for this utility vehicle because of crew exposure to diesel exhaust and operational considerations. Staff also said the quoted price was below state-bid levels and that delaying purchase could increase cost. The ordinance was advanced with all recorded votes in favor.
Ending: Staff said the vehicle will be used regionally for mutual-aid tech-rescue calls and kept as a reserve utility when not deployed; formal financing approvals will follow in subsequent steps.
