Council approves replacement and upfitting for fire department SUV after crash; city to use reserves pending insurance recovery

Council members voted to approve a budget amendment to purchase a replacement 2024 Ford Expedition and to fund upfitting after the department's vehicle was totaled in a collision. The vehicle, used by an assistant chief, was struck while Chief Scornia was returning from a call; the city received an insurance appraisal of roughly $39,000 for the totaled vehicle. Jerry, presenting the request, said the person who struck the department vehicle carried the state-minimum liability insurance and that Travelers — the city's insurer — appraised the totaled vehicle at about $39,000. Jerry said the city paid roughly $56,000 for the original vehicle a year earlier and that no gap insurance applies to that particular vehicle model, leaving an uncovered balance between the insurer payment and the price of a replacement. Jerry said the city conducted a nationwide search and located a 2024 Ford Expedition priced at $59,620; staff asked to amend the budget and use reserves to secure and upfit that vehicle so departmental operations would not be disrupted. Jerry asked for a $8,750 upfitting amendment to cover installation of previously purchased emergency equipment and to allow for known broken parts discovered when equipment was removed. On funding and insurance, Jerry said Travelers will pay the city’s claim and then pursue the at-fault driver’s insurer (Progressive) for the state-minimum portion; the city expects to receive about $37,000 after a $2,500 deductible is applied. The prosecutor's office is pursuing restitution to recover the deductible. Jerry said Travelers indicated it will cover removal and reinstallation of equipment but not necessarily the repainting in department color; repainting/wrapping costs are estimated at $5,000–$6,000 and would be paid from operations. Council discussed whether to swap vehicles within the department or change fleet insurance; staff said replacing now and using reserves was the fastest option and that large vehicles (pumpers/trucks) do carry gap insurance but this SUV did not. Councilor Griggs said he planned to notify state legislators about the state liability minimum; other members expressed frustration at low statutory liability limits. Council approved the initial purchase motion and later approved the upfitting amendment by voice vote. Staff said they will pursue restitution and insurer subrogation and return any recovered funds to reserves if received.