Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fire Department Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fire chief outlines truck needs and county weighs loan, donations and mill-levy options
Summary
Daniels County's fire chief described an aging fleet and presented price ranges for replacement vehicles; commissioners discussed grants, a county-cosigned loan, departmental down payments, and a multi-year plan to rotate vehicles rather than buy one high-cost truck.
William, the Daniels County fire chief, told the commission on Sept. 15 that the department's newest county-owned fire truck dates to 1997 and that several vehicles are at or past useful life. He presented price examples from recent searches: a 2023 "wildland"-style truck had been quoted at about $195,000 and a brush truck at roughly $275,000, while used chassis and rebuilt options commonly showed up in the $30,000–$70,000 range.
William proposed a pragmatic, rotational approach: target a modest truck (roughly $60,000–$70,000 fully outfitted) and seed a replacement fund to allow periodic planned replacements rather than relying on an infrequent, very expensive purchase. "If we could get to where yes, we have the money, I can call these people and say, 'We have the money,' then we can get the truck," he said.
Commissioners and staff discussed financing options including grant searches (DNRC and others), donations, the department's existing fundraising account, and an intercap-style loan that would likely require county cosigning. Staff estimated a five-year loan of roughly $40,000 at about 5% interest would require approximately $9,000 in annual payments, a figure the group used to judge affordability.
To manage timing and the market for used trucks, commissioners agreed the department could provide a down payment to hold a vehicle (a 10% example was discussed) while the county would complete loan paperwork; staff said the county can establish principal and interest line items for the repayment schedule. The board asked that department leaders run any proposed down payment past one commissioner before committing funds.
Speakers noted other cost components the county would face beyond the chassis: tank beds (~$4,500), bed fabrication (~$10,000), pumps (if needed, ~$5,000), hose reels (~$1,500), freight, and local modification costs. Several participants suggested a five- to seven-year replacement cadence, funded with a combination of grant money, donations, and a modest, predictable county contribution to reduce the need for big, ad-hoc expenditures.
Commissioners asked staff to check loan-rate assumptions and look again for grant opportunities; one commissioner said the county will help where feasible but emphasized the need for a concrete price and plan before committing to a loan. "If you find something, we'll send a down payment and we'll move forward," a commissioner said in summary.
The meeting produced no immediate procurement decision but set a process: the department will pursue available vehicles, coordinate with county staff when a purchase needs a down payment, and pursue loan paperwork if a viable truck is identified and the county signs off.
No grant awards or final financing agreements were made in the meeting; staff and commissioners set follow-ups to quantify payment schedules, identify trucks, and pursue potential DNRC equipment possibilities.
