County approves lease payoff and authorizes Henry fire apparatus purchase up to $850,000

Franklin County supervisors on July 15 approved paying off existing leases for fire apparatus and later authorized county staff to proceed with purchasing a replacement apparatus for the Henry district at a not‑to‑exceed amount of $850,000.

Staff told the board they had negotiated trade‑in, state funding and prior capital appropriations to cover lease payoff and to advance procurement steps. Fire and county staff said initial vendor quotes had varied: a lower‑priced option (about $850,000) was available from a new vendor but included contract language that could permit price increases during build; an established manufacturer (Pierce) quoted about $1,050,000 before a proposed $100,000 upfront discount. Chief Fowler said the department wants the flexibility to select a vendor but is cautious about contract language that could expose the county to future cost escalations.

At the meeting a motion to authorize a purchase not to exceed $950,000 failed. The board then approved a motion, 5–1, to let the chief begin procurement subject to an $850,000 cap and to use cooperative purchasing vehicles (HGAC or similar) per county procurement rules if appropriate.

Why it matters: The action advances replacement of aging apparatus in Henry County while keeping the county within the planning assumptions of its capital improvement program. Staff said purchase timing affects lead time because custom apparatus builds require many months (chief estimates 16–18 months for some options) and vendors sometimes retain production slots if contracts are signed earlier.

What’s next: Chief Fowler and procurement staff will finalize specifications and pursue a cooperative procurement up to the $850,000 limit. Staff said they will return to the board if a higher appropriation is needed or if vendor quotes change materially.