Fannin County fire chief reports 50/50 Georgia Forestry grant for hoses, new tanker delivered; bid review for aerial ladder apparatus tabled

County Fire Chief Larry Thomas told the commissioners the department was awarded a Georgia Forestry 50/50 grant to help purchase attack hose sections and asked the county to approve the local match.

Thomas said the department sought 61 sections of 50-foot 8 3/4" attack hose, which totals $9,760 in quoted equipment costs. The Georgia Forestry 50/50 grant covers up to 50% of eligible costs (the grant program's cap was described as roughly $10,000). If the county approves the match, the department would pay the remaining half of the quoted $9,760 (approximately $4,880). The board approved the county match by voice vote.

Thomas also reported the county recently received a new multi-purpose tanker (approximately a 1,000-gallon apparatus) that will carry both fire and rescue equipment; the chassis and specialty features require orientation before the vehicle enters service.

On a separate but related item, the board reviewed competing bids for a 100–107-foot aerial ladder apparatus. Presented bids included: - Rosenbauer (through North American Fire Equipment Co., Decatur, Ala.) — $1,480,988; Rosenbauer commander chassis and Viper aerial per specifications. - Pierce Manufacturing (through North American Fire Equipment Co., Decatur, Ala.) — $1,773,124 for a 107-foot ladder per attached specification. - Peach State Truck Centers (Norcross, Ga.) — $1,579,701 for a 107-foot rear-mount aerial on a Spartan Gladiator chassis. - Fireline (Winder, Ga.) — $1,577,050 for a 100-foot ladder on a custom chassis; a secondary proposal listed $1,114,000 for a different configuration.

Commissioners reviewed the bids and, after discussion, voted to table the aerial-apparatus procurement to the next regular meeting to allow staff time to compare specifications and verify which proposal best meets the county's needs.