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Bethel commissioners approve $526,548 purchase of new fire pumper, defer $40,000 grant decision
Summary
The Bethel Board of Commissioners voted to purchase a $526,548 pumper from Fire Connections Inc.; the town will cover a funding gap if a state 50/50 grant of up to $40,000 is unavailable. Officials said delaying risks higher costs and longer delivery.
The Bethel Board of Commissioners voted to purchase a $526,548 pumper truck from Fire Connections Inc., moving the town from a prior motion of intent to an executed purchase order.
Town officials said the purchase is needed to maintain the fire department’s response capabilities. The manager recommended a financing plan that pairs a proposed $150,000 bank loan with town fund balance to cover the remainder. The board approved the recommendation and carried the motion at the meeting.
Officials discussed timing and grants. Staff had pursued a state 50/50 grant program that could have provided up to $40,000 in state funds (matched by $40,000 of town money) for equipment; staff warned that buying the truck before the state grant cycle opens in March 2026 could disqualify the town from that opportunity. The manager said the town would need to decide whether to borrow an additional amount or rely more heavily on fund balance if the grant is not available.
Fire Department representative Wayne Brock urged the board to proceed now to secure the proven L9 Cummins engine in the truck, warning that waiting could force a change to the Q10 Cummins and add an estimated $70,000–$100,000 to the vehicle cost. “If we wait till later, the engine will change in that truck based on new emission standards…It will cost you it's estimated a minimum of $70,000 more,” Brock said.
Commissioners discussed mitigation steps if grant funding is not secured, including stripping some optional equipment from the purchase and buying those items later after a grant award, and local fundraising to reduce the town’s fund-balance contribution. The manager said the town could accept donations to lower the town portion of the purchase.
The board voted to approve the purchase. The manager said he will execute the purchase order and account for the borrowings and fund-balance usage in the town financial system; fundraising and grant pursuit will continue as possible.
The town did not record a roll-call vote with individual tallies in the transcript; the motion was announced as carried.
