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Council briefed on multi‑year fire apparatus purchases; staff seeks contract authority pending sales‑tax disbursements
Summary
City fire leadership asked the council to authorize ordering new ladder trucks and a used aerial as a stopgap. Staff said voter‑approved sales tax (CPST5) will fund purchases but disbursements do not begin until 2026–2027, so contracts can be signed now but payments will follow later.
City public safety leaders on Monday outlined a multi‑year plan to replace aging fire apparatus and asked council members to authorize contracts so manufacturing and delivery schedules can begin.
Fire Chief Eugene Johnson told the council the department is seeking approval to purchase a used aerial ladder truck as an interim unit for up to $145,000 and to place orders for new apparatus that will have multi‑year lead times. Johnson described the used vehicle as a 1981 American LaFrance 75‑foot ladder that his staff inspected and tested; he said the city would either keep it as a reserve truck or sell it later to recoup funds. “We raised the ladder. We flowed water through it. We test drove it, to check it out,” Johnson said.
Longer term, staff presented a plan to replace older ladder trucks with modern aerials: a 107‑foot aerial priced at about $1.9 million and a second aerial (platform) at about $1.3 million. Johnson said lead times from order to delivery on new aerials are four to five years; if the city orders now those units would not enter service until about 2029–2030.
Funding: Jim Clifford and Johnson said voters approved a dedicated capital sales tax (CPST5) in November that will generate $5,970,000 to replace two ladder trucks, one engine and one support vehicle. Staff explained that CPST5 collections do not begin until 2026 and North Augusta’s disbursements are not expected until roughly 2027, so the city may sign contracts now but cannot make final payments until the tax funds are received.
Council questions and staff responses: Council members asked whether purchases should be staggered to avoid placing large replacement costs on a single future year; staff replied that unit prices are rising and that ordering now helps lock a price and delivery slot, but also noted the council can spread payments across years once CPST5 receipts begin. Staff also described procurement options: cooperative purchasing agreements such as HGAC were used for previous apparatus purchases and are available instead of a three‑bid local process.
Risk and procurement safeguards: Councilmembers asked about vendor bankruptcy and condition of used vehicles. Staff said they rely on interagency checks, vendor references and in‑person inspections; the department declined other used‑truck offers after checking maintenance histories. Clifford said the city intends to place contracts but will only expend funds when CPST5 receipts allow.
Ending: No binding purchase was completed during the study session; staff requested authority to proceed to contract negotiation and return to council with final payment schedules tied to CPST5 disbursement timing. The apparatus resolutions appear on the next council agenda for formal action.
