Commissioners approve used fire “grass” truck purchase and authorize bids for a storage building

Hart County commissioners approved the fire department’s request to purchase a used grass/tender truck from county funds and voted to solicit bids for a metal storage building to house a newer engine.

The purchase motion — to allow the fire department to use available funds to buy the 1989 grass/tender vehicle offered as a local truck — passed on a 5‑0 vote. Commissioners later approved putting the 20‑by‑40 insulated metal storage building out for bid; staff estimated the building with insulation, mini‑split heating and a 12‑foot roll door would cost about $16,000–$18,000.

Why it matters: Fire‑department representatives told the board the used vehicle would replace an older unit with a leaking tank and serve as a service/grass truck at a local station. The board also discussed how equipment capacity ties to the Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating for the county: multiple commissioners and a department speaker said the county needs additional tanker capacity to improve ISO scoring and firefighting water availability.

Fire‑department staff outlined equipment needs and costs. A department speaker explained that to move ISO metrics meaningfully the county likely needs three additional tankers of about 2,500‑gallon capacity. He said new forestry‑style 2,500‑gallon tanks cost roughly $62,000–$65,000 with a six‑month wait for build; a new chassis suitable for a tank can add about $125,000–$150,000. He said most used tankers available either had excessive mileage or asking prices near new units.

Commissioners asked practical questions about insurance, disposition of replaced vehicles and the county’s strategy for ISO compliance. The discussion noted that some vehicle bodies are specialty forestry bodies and that the county will remove insurance from vehicles taken out of service when replacements enter the fleet. The board emphasized the county’s interest in improving water flow at hydrants and adding mobile water capacity to increase a typical fire flow toward 1,000 gallons per minute where possible.

On the storage building item, the board reviewed vendor estimates and asked the fire department to include site preparations (grading or a concrete pad) and electrical/heating specifications in bid documents. A motion to advertise for bids for the storage building passed 5‑0.

Ending: Both formal motions passed; staff were authorized to proceed with purchasing the used grass/tender truck from available funds and to solicit bids for a heated metal storage building. Staff and the commission said they would continue to evaluate tanker purchases and other capital options to improve fire protection capacity and ISO scores.