Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Columbus council approves roughly $3 million in new fire apparatus and related safety equipment
Summary
The council approved purchases from McQueen Emergency Group for a $2.15 million ladder truck and a $940,000 fire engine, plus related equipment and trade‑in/refurbishment plans; the fire chief said the ladder unit is unreliable and the purchases reduce long‑term costs and build delays.
The Columbus City Council on Oct. 6 approved a package of public‑safety equipment purchases totaling roughly $3.05 million to replace aging fire apparatus and update department gear.
The purchases include a $2,150,000 ladder truck and a $940,000 fire engine from McQueen Emergency Group, to be funded over two fiscal years, and a separate $188,495.09 set of equipment quotes from multiple vendors for apparatus gear. The fire department plans to trade in its existing ladder truck; McQueen will refurbish another traded vehicle so the department gains long‑term pumping capacity while extending the life of an existing rig, City staff said.
Fire Chief Gray described the decision as urgent, saying the current ladder truck is unreliable despite low miles and engine hours and has extensive hydraulic and computer failures. ‘‘We are in desperate need of a ladder truck,’’ Chief Gray said, noting recent repairs and limited serviceability. Todd Klein, the sales representative at McQueen, told council the expected build time is 13–15 months from order to final inspection.
Council members asked about savings for a lump‑sum payment and alternatives to buy both vehicles within a single year; staff said the department could not fund both in the same fiscal year and that multi‑year CIP numbering reflects projects that span budgets. The motion to approve the purchases passed by voice vote.
Also approved were smaller related items: the city authorized a purchase of five LUCAS CPR devices from Stryker (trade‑in credited) and accepted quotes for radar and traffic‑data systems for police enforcement and for fleet graphics and mobile fingerprint systems. Interim Police Chief Brett Strecker said the pole‑mounted traffic systems record date/time and act like enhanced speed trailers without capturing license plates.
The council approved the items by voice vote and recorded no roll‑call tallies in the transcript.
Next steps: staff will complete procurement paperwork and coordinate delivery and trade‑in logistics; the ladder truck and engine are expected to be in service roughly 13–15 months after ordering.
