Scott County Fiscal Court voted June 13 to authorize contracting for a new fire pumper at a price staff presented to the court as approximately $1.896 million. The court's motion passed on voice vote.

Fire and county staff explained the procurement strategy: a three-year delivery schedule means ordering now avoids higher costs and new 2027 engine-emissions requirements that staff said would add roughly $80,000 to $100,000 to the price of engines built to the later standard. Staff said the purchase will allow the county to stagger fleet replacement so reserves are younger and more reliable when they must serve as frontline units.

Officials described current reserve apparatus ages: the reserve units include vehicles from about 2017 and 2019, and by 2028 one reserve could be approximately 22 years old without fleet adjustments. The court's approval was intended to get ahead of long manufacturing lead times and avoid simultaneous large procurements in the future.

Court members discussed alternatives, including waiting a year or pursuing an available prebuilt unit if one appears on manufacturers' inventory, but ultimately authorized the contract to secure a place in the production line. County staff said budget planning for the purchase will occur in future fiscal years because payment is due on delivery.