Ventnor officials back bond plan to replace 32-year-old fire engine; delivery likely years away

Ventnor City commissioners on May 28 indicated support for beginning the bond-ordinance process to replace a 32–33-year-old fire engine the chief said is past its service life. The chief estimated the replacement apparatus at about $1.1 million and said federal regulatory and supply-chain changes have pushed prices up roughly $400,000 in the last four years.

Chief K told the governing body the engine has become costly to keep in service and that parts are increasingly unavailable; department mechanics and the city’s emergency-vehicle contractor reportedly recommended replacement. "It comes in at $1.1 million. It is a vehicle that will serve the city for 25 to 30 years," the chief said on the record.

Officials described a multi-step procurement timetable if commissioners approve a bond ordinance: introduce the ordinance at the next meeting, hold a public hearing and adopt it at the following meeting, wait the statutorily required 20 days and then issue a purchase order. Staff estimated that schedule would likely place actual ordering into July and delivery in 2028.

Commissioners said bonding spreads costs over the life of the asset and reduces near-term budget pressure. Public works and finance staff also raised related capital items for potential inclusion in the same bond: a dump truck with plow (~$350,000), a street sweeper (~$400,000 for the gasoline model proposed) and facility repairs (approx. $100,000). The commission asked administration to prioritize the fire truck given the time-sensitive procurement window and to return with formal bond language at the next meeting.

What happens next: staff will prepare a bond ordinance and timeline for introduction at the next commission meeting; the purchase and construction schedule will depend on adoption, contract timing and manufacturer lead times.

Sources: Capital discussion and public remarks at the May 28 Ventnor City Commission meeting.