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Arkansas City approves lease-purchase and loose-equipment buy to outfit new fire engine
Summary
The Arkansas City Commission unanimously approved buying loose equipment for a 2025 Ferrara fire engine and entering a 10-year lease-purchase with Union State Bank at a 4.25% rate to finance the engine and gear, after the fire chief described delays and equipment needs.
The Arkansas City Commission voted to authorize purchase of loose equipment for a 2025 Ferrara fire engine and approved a lease-purchase agreement to finance the engine and associated gear. The commission’s motions passed by voice vote at a special meeting.
Chief Cassidy told the commission the truck, purchased in 2023, has been delayed "two and a half years" and that some components were built with the wrong motor; he urged the city to accept delivery to avoid manufacturer interest charges. Cassidy described the loose equipment the department needs—SCBA packs and bottles, hose and pumps—to avoid cannibalizing other apparatus and to restore redundancy in the fleet after recent failures of Engines 51 and 52. "We waited 2 and a half years," Cassidy said, describing the urgency to outfit the vehicle and place it in service.
Commissioner (speaker 4) moved a resolution authorizing the city to purchase loose equipment including SCBA units and radios, with motion language in the transcript stating an amount "not to exceed $154,001.20" (transcript contains additional digits/formatting anomalies); the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote. The clerk then read a separate resolution to enter a lease-purchase agreement with Union State Bank to finance a 2025 Ferrara engine and associated equipment for a total finance amount read in the record as $1,034,520.83. The finance director reported Union State Bank submitted the best bid with a 4.25% interest rate and recommended a 10-year amortization with semiannual payments.
Commissioners and staff said the expenditures were previously budgeted and the money had been set aside over the past two to three years. No roll-call vote tally was read in the minutes; the chair conducted voice votes and announced each motion carried. The commission adjourned after hearing public comment.
Next steps: the city will finalize the lease documents with Union State Bank and accept delivery of the engine once vendor requirements are satisfied.
