Custer County approves purchase of 8,500‑gallon water tanker to boost firefighting, road work

The Custer County Board of Commissioners voted Jan. 7 to purchase a used 8,500‑gallon water tanker trailer to increase the county’s water‑hauling capacity for firefighting and remote road work.

Vince Roman Bridge, who presented the trailer option, said the unit would allow the county to shuttle more water to remote locations and reduce round‑trip hauling time compared with the county’s smaller 4,000‑gallon trucks. The trailer on offer is a used model located in Fremont County; Bridge said the seller’s listed price was $3,500 and the trailer can be fitted to spray roads or offload into smaller trucks.

The board discussed mechanical issues and repair needs raised by county mechanics, including brakes, springs and other items. Bridge provided a repair estimate and a separate ‘‘total with repairs’’ number during discussion; county remarks and the presentation contained inconsistent figures for the repair total. Commissioners agreed staff should detail repair costs and bring a budget amendment to the board; a commissioner moved to approve the purchase and another seconded the motion. The motion passed with board members saying "aye."

The board directed staff to identify a funding source (operations/capital budget and cash reserve were discussed) and to work with mechanics to obtain definitive repair estimates and, if required, arrange DOT inspection and re‑certification before putting the trailer into service.

The county official presenting the item said the trailer would improve the county’s ability to fight fires on distant county roads and to support road and bridge work by reducing time spent hauling water.

The county will return with a budget amendment and repair‑cost details before substantial work or deployments take place.