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Chief outlines $400,000 ambulance and $1.3M–$1.98M ladder‑truck price tags as committee begins long‑range planning
Summary
The fire chief and village staff told the public safety committee the department faces a structural fire fund deficit and long‑range capital needs: a replacement ambulance likely around $400,000 (including cot system) with 28–36 month lead time and an aerial ladder apparatus estimated at $1.3 million–$1.98 million with 36–42 month lead time; the committee discussed financing options and potential sale of older apparatus.
Committee members and staff spent the largest portion of the July 10 meeting on the village's fire fund and capital improvement plan.
Staff said the previous budget practice of splitting fire department line items between the general fund and a separate fire fund masked the department's true income and expense picture; after consolidating the accounts staff said they found the fire fund lacks sufficient recurring revenue to cover expenses and that general fund transfers have been required to balance operations.
The fire chief described timing and cost estimates for replacements. On the ambulance, he said the department has about $195,000 set aside currently and has solicited vendor pricing: base ambulance pricing quoted in recent outreach ranged from roughly $340,000 to $360,000, with the cot system adding about $60,000, making a total replacement estimate near $400,000. He said lead times he heard from vendors are roughly 28–36 months and urged the committee to begin planning now to meet those schedules.
On aerial apparatus, the chief said the village's ladder truck dates to 1998 and that typical service life for such devices is about 30 years. Pricing the chief reported ranged from about $1.3 million (a Pierce product) up to about $1.98 million from another vendor. He noted that financing options exist (the vendor's 15‑year financing example was discussed) and that longer bonds through the state could lower annual debt service but would commit the village longer term.
Committee members and the chief discussed operational alternatives: selling an older engine now to realize current value, replacing equipment on staggered schedules to avoid overlapping large purchases, seeking cooperative agreements with neighboring departments and leveraging association fundraising money only for limited items. The chief cautioned that the fire department association's usual fundraising is modest and not sufficient to cover major vehicle purchases.
No formal decisions were made; staff said the department will continue due diligence, pursue vendor quotes, explore financing scenarios (leasing vs. bonds), and report options back to finance and the village board for possible inclusion in future CIP budgets.
