Joshua City approves purchase of Spartan MetroStar fire apparatus; council authorizes city manager to sign documents

The Joshua City Council voted unanimously to purchase a Spartan MetroStar FY24-180 fire apparatus and authorized the city manager to sign the necessary purchase documents.

Fire Department staff presented the purchase as a response to repeated repairs and declining reliability of the department's 2011 engine. The presenter said the department spent nearly $60,000 in repairs over the past five years, with particularly heavy costs since 2022. "Over the past 5 years, we've spent nearly $60,000 in repairs ... the last 2 years is where it's really starting to show its age," the presenter said, noting the vehicle is 13 years old and that typical replacement cycles are seven to 10 years.

Staff described a vendor offer that includes a trade-in allowance (the presenter said the vendor was "willing to give us a 125,000 for our older" apparatus) and noted a spec unit is already in production and could be ready for customization and delivery well before other lead times. Council members asked about maintenance responsibility and mileage on the unit (the presenter said the current engine had about 40,000 miles) and discussed financing options. Staff presented financing options ranging from 10- to 15-year terms and said a lease option was available but not recommended for long-term cost reasons.

Several council members said they were reluctant about the expense but saw few alternatives given manufacturing lead times; one councilmember said earlier discussions and limited unit availability motivated the special meeting. Councilmember Mike moved to approve the purchase, and Councilmember Merrill seconded; the council also authorized the city manager to sign all necessary documents. The motion passed unanimously.