Commissioners discuss buying used engine from Concordia; fire leaders propose up to $35,000 bid

Fire department representatives briefed the commission Jan. 31 about a used structural engine located in Concordia that the departments inspected and recommended bidding on, proposing a maximum bid of $35,000. Fire staff said the engine had about 16,000 miles and 1,800 pump hours, was well maintained and had current pump certification records available from the seller.

Representatives described the county’s current apparatus situation: one engine failed or did not pass pump certification, leaving the tender and another unit to cover calls. They said adding the Concordia engine would improve response capacity and ISO scoring in structural response; the department asked commissioners to consider contributing $5,000 from county equipment funds if the bidding department could cover the rest (staff proposed a 30/5 split with the department contributing $30,000 and the county $5,000, or similar).

Commissioners and staff discussed logistics (transport, certification, hose and ladder equipment included or not, and garage/height constraints). No formal motion to appropriate funds was adopted at the meeting; the department said it would pursue a bid and requested direction from commissioners on whether the county could provide up to $5,000 toward a maximum $35,000 purchase price.

Commissioners asked staff to coordinate with finance and advised the department to pursue the opportunity; the county will not commit funds until a formal appropriation is presented and approved.

Outcome: discussion and direction to pursue a purchase; no formal appropriation recorded at this meeting.