Council discusses buying a used ladder truck; staff urges independent inspection and full cost estimate

Dayton — Councilors on March 10 reviewed a staff recommendation to pursue a used Pierce aerial ladder (previously owned by the City of Hopkins) as a lower-cost alternative to buying new apparatus.

Fire staff said the truck is posted for auction on the state bidding site and that the city could reasonably expect a competitive price in the mid‑hundreds of thousands of dollars, but that final auction results are uncertain. The fire chief and staff asked the council for latitude to bid and for direction on an acceptable ceiling; they emphasized the need to budget for outfitting, spare tires and nondestructive ladder testing.

Council members urged caution. One councilor said maintenance records raised concerns — an oil sample showing elevated copper and notes of valves approaching failure — and recommended an independent, on‑behalf inspection to quantify near‑term repair costs before committing city funds. “It would be nice to know some information about that,” a councilor said, asking staff to obtain a vendor or third‑party assessment of potential repair bills.

Staff said some equipment can be reused from prior apparatus but that items such as long‑length hose and specialized fittings will likely be additional purchases. The city noted approximately $240,000 in levy dollars that could be directed toward capital needs later in the year, plus about $3 million of pooled investments overall, but staff cautioned that some funds are not immediately liquid. Council asked staff to return to a future meeting with an independent survey, an itemized list of additional equipment and a recommended maximum bid or funding pathway before any authorization to purchase.

No purchase authorization was granted at the meeting; staff indicated they expect more information and will return to council for a decision.