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Borger briefs council on recruits, certifications and need to order ambulances now for 2028 delivery
Summary
City staff updated council on police and fire recruits, staff certifications, dispatch staffing, and long ambulance delivery timelines that require ordering vehicles now for guaranteed 2028 pricing.
Speaker 2, a staff member, updated the council April 15 on public-safety staffing, training, and vehicle procurement timelines that affect emergency medical and law enforcement services.
The staff member reported that one police recruit in the Alpha Academy is roughly six weeks from completion and that recruits in the Bravo Academy have completed testing and will begin training in about a month. Staff noted Dennis Guzman completed module 1 of the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) and has two modules remaining toward a Leadership Command College designation.
The fire department tested nine recruits for an open recruit position and plans to offer positions to four candidates. The department is using fire recruits to fill both suppression and EMT roles; nine firefighters and three EMS personnel recently completed Texas Commission on Fire Protection wildfire certification.
On ambulance procurement, staff said ambulance delivery times are currently up to 38 to 40 months, and the city is preparing an agenda item to approve ordering ambulances now for delivery in fiscal 2028. The staff member explained that ordering now secures current pricing for the 2028 delivery; the plan also contemplates ordering four units and later remounting boxes to new chassis to manage lifecycle and maintenance spares.
The staff member also reported dispatch staffing changes (one dispatcher departure) and noted the city is the only Panhandle community using the Mercury records/dispatch system across three disciplines. A siren maintenance contract was mentioned as forthcoming for council action.
Ending: The council received informational updates on staffing and was notified of a forthcoming procurement item to authorize ambulance purchases to meet long lead times.
