Hoover to seek $1.6 million from transport revenue for new fire apparatus; Council to consider budget amendment

City staff asked the Hoover City Council to approve a budget amendment to use $1.6 million from previously assigned ambulance/transport revenues to advance purchase orders for fire apparatus, saying long manufacturer lead times require ordering now.

Miss Cornett, presenting for the fire department, said the city executed letters of intent in October 2024 for a type 1 medical transport unit and a pumper truck because lead times can be long: about 36 months for a pumper and 18–24 months for rescue units. She said national best practices recommend replacing engines every 10 years and ladder trucks every 15 years.

Cornett said transport activities generate significant revenue and have helped the city accumulate approximately $2.7 million in assigned funds. The current request would use $1.6 million of that $2.7 million to issue purchase orders and keep equipment in the procurement pipeline. Cornett reported the department expects to perform more than 6,000 transports in the year and that each rescue unit typically accumulates 20,000–30,000 miles annually; one unit was noted as exceeding 40,000 miles in a year.

Council members asked clarifying questions about capital needs and timing. Cornett said the request is a budget amendment and that the department will likely return with additional procurement requests during upcoming budget hearings, funded by ongoing transport revenue. No formal vote occurred in the work session; the amendment was scheduled for the regular Council meeting.