Council approves surplus sale but pauses sale of 31-year-old pumper engine

Radford City Council voted to surplus a list of city vehicles, equipment and Radford Transit buses and to pause the sale of a 31-year-old pumper engine while staff gathers more information about repair costs and salvage options.

City Manager Todd told council staff plans to list most items on GovDeals or similar platforms to maximize sale value. The surplus list included a pumper fire engine, multiple Crown Victorias, a Pontiac Bonneville, a Volkswagen Jetta, a Ford Explorer, a police Charger, the old street sweeper and Radford Transit buses that are not running.

Council members pressed for details about the pumper engine’s condition and potential salvage value. The fire chief said the engine has recurring plumbing issues, leaks oil, and is 31 years old; because of plumbing leaks it no longer counts toward the city’s ISO rating. The chief said parts are increasingly hard to find and the vehicle has been in the shop frequently over the years. “It does have some plumbing issues that we have tried to fix over the years that just keep recurring, and it does leak and it is a 31 year old vehicle,” the fire chief said.

Todd said the pumper engine may still have parts value and that staff would explore options, including specialized buyers or selling the engine separately. Councilor Seth moved that the city proceed with surplus sales for the listed items but pause action on the pumper engine while staff examines repair costs and other disposal options; the motion passed.

Council also noted Radford Transit has requested permission to dispose of buses that are not running in advance of six new buses expected to arrive in February.