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Millcreek approves contract to reserve $2.24 million tower ladder truck; chair votes no
Summary
The Millcreek Board approved signing a Co‑Stars contract to reserve a 100‑ft Pierce tower ladder priced at $2,236,595 and a not-to-exceed 40‑month build time; the contract secures production queue but does not commit financing, and the chair registered the lone dissent. Residents urged clarity about state aid and long-term costs.
The Millcreek Board of Supervisors voted June 23 to authorize signing a Co‑Stars purchase agreement to reserve a 100‑foot Pierce tower ladder at a contract price of $2,236,595 and a maximum 40‑month delivery window, in a vote that carried despite the chair’s dissent.
Chief Cliff, who presented the proposal on behalf of the Millcreek Fire Department, told the board the truck was identified in a 2020 fleet study as the replacement for a 2003 Sutphen tower at West Ridge and that signing the contract would place the township in the manufacturer’s production queue. “This contract is to get the contract scheduled. It would get it into the queue for production and no funds would be due until we took delivery of this truck,” Chief Cliff said.
The purchase was described as a multi‑year capital planning decision. Chief Cliff said funding is anticipated to come from capital budgets beginning in 2029, with the township aiming to use grants and setaside reserves to reduce financing. When residents asked whether state aid previously passed through volunteer fire companies is guaranteed, resident Jerry Sredio asked, “Is this money guaranteed every year?” Officials answered that state aid is not guaranteed and any reallocation discussions are ongoing.
Board members and staff emphasized that approving the contract tonight did not approve financing. Attorney Shaw reviewed cancellation provisions in the vendor agreement, noting staged cancellation fees (10% after order acceptance, 20% after approval drawings, 30% upon material requisition) and that costs would rise as production progressed. Treasurer Paige and others said the township would seek grants and reserve funding to minimize any required borrowing.
Supporters said early placement in the production queue was prudent to secure the vehicle and avoid longer future delays; opponents and some residents asked for clearer public communication about long‑term tax or debt implications. Supervisor Clear and Supervisor Morris voted yes; the chair voted no, and the motion passed.
Next steps: the board authorized the township manager and solicitor to execute the contract to secure production placement; financing terms will be reviewed and decided closer to delivery (no financing was approved at the June 23 meeting).
