County officials discussed arrival dates, grant funding and interim financing for multiple fire vehicles and a Fairfield purchase during the meeting.
“One of them is gonna be here in this this month,” one attendee said about the vehicle deliveries, while noting others were expected “primarily January” of next year.
Officials said four vehicles were on the twelfth item list, with three tankers and a rescue unit discussed separately. “The 3 tankers are 2 Jig Street. The rescue is the part of the job. Well, theirs was just parts,” a meeting participant said; another described the department’s rescue truck as the oldest: “Their rescue truck was kinda the oldest 1.”
Funding and grants: a speaker said Fairfield secured a grant that had been applied for about a decade earlier and estimated the grant amount as about $275,000. “Somebody know? Well, this is a grant that they put in for 10 years ago. We got to the top of the list unknowingly. And We got it. Fairfield. Okay. I mean, we've done discussed all this in the past, but, basically, that grant is for 275,000, I think,” the speaker said. Meeting comments also noted a $125,000 donation to help the county with its portion, and an approximate county match of about $122,000 was described as the remaining amount needed for the truck.
Officials discussed interim cash-management and financing options. One participant referenced investment vehicles: the county could “put when we receive those funds, we can put those funds into TxStar or TxPool to draw interest off of them.” Another asked about the role of Republic in financing. “What's the what's the story with Republic? Because they're right shoulder there. What's the story?” said an attendee; a staff member replied that Republic is a common financing partner for local entities.
What this means: delivery timing, grant disbursements and donor funds will affect when Fairfield receives and pays for its tanker. Speakers described the county possibly borrowing funds up front and holding them in interest-bearing accounts until disbursement. The transcript contains no formal vote awarding vehicles in the excerpt.