Borough staff outlines three options to fix limited local capacity for fire truck and ambulance repairs

The Resac committee of the Fairbanks North Star Borough heard detailed recommendations from borough administration on options to address a shortage of locally available certified mechanics for fire apparatus and ambulances.

Administration representative Mr. Cuba told the committee an internal working group met twice and developed three paths: do not have the borough directly participate and instead support local fire services; fund a contract with a local shop (or retain a contractor) that can employ EVT-certified mechanics, either mobile or shop-based; or hire three borough mechanics and equip a borough shop at Pega Road or, with Federal Transit Administration permission, Tesoro Avenue. "We don't necessarily want to rush into a solution to this," Mr. Cuba said, urging more analysis and an RFP to understand local capacity and true costs.

Officials estimated the cost of option 3 — hiring three mechanics — at roughly $500,000 in annual personnel expenses and an additional $300,000–$400,000 for initial shop equipment such as lifts and…