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Mount Vernon authorizes purchase of ladder truck, defers prepayment to preserve cash
Summary
The council approved purchase of a new ladder truck not to exceed $1.7 million and directed staff to pay when the unit is complete rather than prepay for a discount. Staff said the equipment fund balance is $327,586 and the build lead time is about 46–48 months.
The Mount Vernon City Council on Jan. 6 approved purchasing a new ladder truck for the fire department with a purchase cap of $1,700,000 and directed that the city pay when the unit is complete rather than prepay to secure a discount.
Fire Department chiefs described the proposal to replace Engine 215 (in service since 1995) with a custom-built ladder truck. The base unit price reported was $1,594,071 with a $235,580 discount if the apparatus is paid for before build. The vendor lead time for a custom build was listed at 46–48 months.
Staff reported the voter-approved fire equipment fund currently has $327,586 in cash. The levy collects roughly $105,000 annually. To pre-pay and obtain the discount, staff said the city would likely need to borrow about $1,100,000 now, which would incur interest costs during the four-year build window and reduce remaining debt capacity. Staff recommended forgoing the prepayment discount and paying upon completion; the council supported that approach.
Council approved a motion to purchase a ladder truck not to exceed $1,700,000 and to pay when the unit is complete. The motion was made by Tuerler, seconded by Andresen, carried on a vote with Councilmember Rose absent.
Next steps: Staff will proceed with procurement and financing planning consistent with the council’s direction and will report back on financing options and schedule.
