Jackson board approves purchase of new Pierce fire engine, not to exceed $1.31 million

The Village of Jackson Village Board on March 11 approved a contract with Pierce Manufacturing to build a replacement for Fire Engine 1261 (a 2005 Pierce engine), authorizing staff to enter a contract not to exceed $1,309,907. The motion, made by Trustee Emerick and seconded by Trustee Kripke, passed on a voice vote; members answered “aye” and the motion carried.

Village officials said the replacement follows a multi-year review by a truck committee that evaluated chassis corrosion, hose‑bed ergonomics, pump and foam systems, and serviceability. Battalion Chief Lam, who led the committee presentation, summarized the process: "this has been a process," noting the group had compared recent deliveries from three manufacturers and vetted core values for the new apparatus.

Why it matters: the board heard that the 2005 engine shows frame‑rail corrosion and other age‑related issues and remains a primary response apparatus for structure fires, mutual‑aid calls and alarms. Chief Sweeny told the board the proposal “doesn't have all the frills like our old one does, but they made it very useful.” Committee members emphasized improvements in safety and reliability, including a lower hose bed for safer hose handling, galvanized frame rails and undercoating to limit corrosion, air suspension to improve ride and lower the hose bed when parked, an EMS compartment and a 360‑degree camera system to assist maneuvering.

Committee recommendation and price: the truck committee recommended Pierce after receiving two priced proposals (Pierce and one other manufacturer). Battalion Chief Lam reported a near‑parity on base pricing: Pierce’s initial chassis/vehicle proposal was reported in the packet as $1,000,001.49 and the competitor about $37,000 lower on the base quote; the committee recommended Pierce for local manufacturing ties, dealer service and a vendor guarantee for 2027 engine‑compliance pricing. Committee members and several trustees stressed dealer proximity and service history with the local Pierce dealer in Slinger (Reliant) as a deciding factor.

Tradeoffs, schedule and financing: the board discussed long manufacturer lead times. Staff and committee members said Pierce’s typical build schedule placed delivery after 2027 (committee cited 3–4+ years; an estimate of 49–51 months was discussed for a full build), and some competing manufacturers quoted shorter lead times. Trustees and staff also reviewed a prepayment discount offered by the manufacturer; village finance staff and the board concluded that short‑term borrowing to capture the discount would likely erase the savings once interest was included and therefore recommended financing the purchase through the village’s existing financial management plan when the time to draw funds arrives.

Cost controls: presenters described specific cost reductions in the recommended build: eliminating an on‑board foam system, foregoing an expensive telescoping light mast, relying on LED scene lighting, and other simplifications to reduce price while meeting the department’s core operational needs. The committee also recommended reserving a contingency in the project price to cover modest design changes during final specification.

Board action and next steps: Trustee Emerick moved and Trustee Kripke seconded a motion to approve contracting with Pierce (Appleton/Slinger dealer) for the new engine, not to exceed $1,309,907. The motion carried by voice vote. Staff said the department will proceed with final contract language and scheduling with the vendor and return to the board with financing details and a timeline as they become firm.

Ending: The board closed discussion by thanking the committee and staff for the multi‑year review; Chief Sweeny and his team said they will continue design discussions with the dealer and report timing and financing decisions before the contract is executed.