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Monona approves emergency purchase of 2023 Ford F-150 XL for fire department
Summary
Council amended the 2025 capital budget and approved purchase of a 2023 Ford F-150 XL to replace a deteriorating brush truck; funding will come from vehicle sales, equipment funds and anticipated shared-revenue increases.
Monona — On Jan. 6 the Monona City Council approved an immediate purchase of a 2023 Ford F-150 XL for the fire department and amended the 2025 capital budget to fund the acquisition.
Fire department leadership told the council the department’s brush truck (unit 094) has developed transmission problems and lacks adequate emergency lighting for first-response use. The department sought a vehicle available immediately rather than waiting 12–18 months for a state-bid replacement. The chief said retrofitting the existing truck would require substantial work (lighting, transmission repairs, heating/AC and exhaust repairs) and estimated repair costs that, in his view, exceeded the prudent investment in a 15-year-old unit.
The council approved a budget amendment (Resolution 25-1-2771) and the purchase resolution (Resolution 25-1-2768). Funding sources described at the meeting included an estimated $20,000 sale value for the fire truck being replaced (the chief characterized a conservative estimate from reseller quotes), an estimated $5,000 auction sale of an older police interceptor, and approximately $26,000 currently in the equipment side of the fire department’s funding assistance account. The city administrator said shared-revenue increases expected in early March would also offset the cost. City staff reported total available funding of about $78,000 for the purchase.
Councilors discussed fleet-management concerns (sometimes called “fleet creep”) and how selling older units is recorded; staff said the sale proceeds would be applied to this purchase this year and that one older police car (car 3) will not be replaced, permanently reducing future levy pressure. The chief also noted the new truck’s lighting is tricolor and can be switched to blue for police use if needed, allowing interagency flexibility.
Both the budget amendment and the purchase motions passed on roll-call votes. The clerk recorded affirmative votes for the budget amendment from Alder Wood; Alder Rademacher; Alder Bernstein; Alder DePula; and Alder Holmquist. For the purchase resolution the clerk recorded aye votes from Alder Rademacher; Alder Bernstein; Alder Dakota (name as recorded in minutes); Alder Holmquist; and Alder Blick. Both measures passed.
