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Ambulance district board waives purchasing rules, approves lease-financing for four fire apparatus
Summary
The Ambulance District Board of Governors approved waiving the county purchasing manual to procure four pieces of fire apparatus — two Fouts pumpers and two 3,000-gallon tanker tenders — financed over a three-year lease purchase with aggregate payments the board discussed; county fire chief described procurement delays and transparency measures.
The Ambulance District Board of Governors on Wednesday approved a resolution waiving the county purchasing policy for purchase of four fire apparatus from Monroe County Fire Rescue and authorized related lease-financing and escrow documents.
The board’s resolution (agenda item H-3) covered purchase of two Fouts Fire FB-94 pumpers and two 3,000-gallon water tanker tenders (one Freightliner and one Kenworth), procurement through South Florida Emergency Vehicles LLC per contract PS20225, and execution of a lease-financing proposal prepared with Leasing 2, Inc. The purchase will be financed over a three-year term with annual payments presented in staff materials; the board also delegated authority to the county administrator and county officials to execute documents subject to county-attorney review.
Why it matters: Monroe County Fire Rescue officials told the board lead times for new apparatus can be long — 42 months or more — and that securing stock apparatus available now allows the county to replace aged equipment more quickly. Chief RL (Monroe County Fire Rescue) described efforts to procure stock apparatus and to “itemize exactly what equipment is necessary” so units arrive ready for service.
Board discussion and outcome Chief RL explained the replacement plan and the decision to acquire stock apparatus to reduce the time citizens wait for new equipment. “An average apparatus spec is about 42 months out… by securing stock apparatus that fit our needs… we are able to replace some very aged equipment,” the chief said. He added the county had itemized equipment costs up front so an arriving apparatus will be immediately operable.
The board motion to approve the waiver and financing proposal passed without recorded dissent. Following the vote district officials said Monroe County Fire Rescue would receive the four apparatus by August and would continue to refine a long-term replacement schedule.
Next steps The county administrator and specified officials were authorized to execute the vehicle purchase agreement, the lease-financing documents and escrow agreement subject to county-attorney review of legal form and sufficiency. The board expects final delivery and placement of apparatus in service later this year.
