Ellsworth council authorizes $866,118 purchase of new fire engine and designates old engine surplus

Ellsworth’s City Council on Thursday authorized the purchase of a new fire engine and related outfitting, approving a four-part motion read by Councilor Smith.

Fire Chief Gilroy told the council the apparatus committee evaluated options and recommended procurement through the Sourcewell cooperative using Pierce Manufacturing after vendor pricing and a dealer-allocated build slot shortened delivery to roughly 13 months. He presented a 100% prepayment price of $866,118 and said that option produced material savings compared with earlier estimates that ranged from about $890,000 to $1.1 million.

Chief Gilroy summarized the apparatus specifications: the engine is specced with a 1,500-gallon-per-minute pump and a 1,000-gallon tank. "It has been specked out as a 1,500 gallon per minute pump with a 1,000 gallon tank, which is larger than all the engines downstairs," the chief said.

Councilor Halloran commended the department’s research and the choice of a well-known vendor but said he would oppose the motion because he objects to the city’s broader spending priorities. He also raised caution about prepaying nearly $1 million and urged contract protections to ensure the city is made whole if the manufacturer fails to deliver. "I'm going to vote against it," Halloran said.

Other council members cited the apparatus committee’s experience and an estimated 3.7% savings from prepaying; one member said that saving compared favorably with short-term yields available elsewhere and supported including prepayment in the motion.

Councilor Smith moved to: (1) authorize the city manager and fire chief to execute a purchase agreement with Pierce Manufacturing via Sourcewell for one fire engine in the amount of $866,118; (2) utilize funding from previously authorized BAN (council order 102501); (3) authorize expenditure of remaining funds (originally stated $133,822, later amended on the record) from council order 102501 for apparatus equipment, communications hardware, and mission-ready outfitting; and (4) designate Engine Seven as surplus to be sold with proceeds placed in the capital reserve account. A councilor amended the outfitting figure to $133,882; the amended motion was seconded and carried.

The council approved the purchase and related authorizations on a voice vote. The purchase will be funded through the previously authorized bond anticipation note with up to $133,882 allocated from that authorization for outfitting and mission‑ready equipment; Engine Seven will be declared surplus and sold via broker or public auction with proceeds returned to the capital reserve for future fire capital expenses.

What happens next: staff will execute the Sourcewell/Pierce purchase agreement consistent with the motion and negotiated contract protections; delivery is expected in approximately 13 months under the dealer-allocated build slot.