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Board approves $1.8 million transfer to buy two fire apparatus after chief warns of fleet failures
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Summary
The fire chief said the county's fire apparatus fleet is deteriorating and provided repair-cost examples; the board approved a $1.8 million transfer from the Colonial Downs future capital fund to buy two apparatus (one available within weeks, second in July) to stagger replacements and avoid a $9 million bulk purchase.
The county’s fire chief told supervisors that the primary response fleet has suffered increasing downtime and costly repairs, citing several recent examples: a pump rebuild costing about $16,000, replacement of a turntable collector ring for roughly $36,000, and other repairs that left apparatus out of service for weeks. He said the county’s primary vehicles average 60,000–70,000 miles and that parts and vendor lead times have grown longer.
To avoid a previously discussed $9 million bulk purchase, the chief described an opportunity to acquire two spec demo apparatus already in the state for a combined $1.8 million including all equipment, radios and computers—one unit could be in service in 15–20 days and the second would arrive in July. The acquisition would add one reserve and an extra tanker (the tanker would be assigned to the Lenexa station) and reduce the planned bulk purchase accordingly.
Board members asked procedural questions about public hearings, funding sources and how repairs are handled; staff said the county can transfer funds from the Colonial Downs Future Capital Appropriations line and that a public hearing would not be required for the transfer. On motion by Miss Stewart, the board approved the appropriation/transfer of $1,800,000; the roll-call vote was recorded as unanimous in favor.
