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Soldier Township approves med truck and equipment purchases; fire department reports paramedic scope, grants and licensing
Summary
The board approved purchase of a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado med truck not to exceed $85,000 (including radio), a four-month rental agreement for a 2020 Pipehunter trailer with a Jan. 1, 2026 purchase option, and a $9,373 snowplow. Fire Chief reported 787 calls year-to-date and said the department will operate in the Paramedic Scope and received required pharmacy licensing.
Soldier Township’s board approved several equipment purchases on Sept. 9 to support road operations and emergency medical response, and the fire chief briefed the board on operational milestones and grant activity.
Fire Chief Chad Lady presented a single bid for replacement of Med Truck 71 totaling $72,914.11, noting the radio and installation are estimated at roughly $7,000. The purchase is included in the township’s 2025 capital improvement plan (budget line $85,000). Member Mike Mathes moved to approve purchase of a 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Med Truck at a total cost not to exceed $85,000 (including the radio); Member Jerry Glasgow seconded and the motion passed.
Road Superintendent John Tipton presented a Rental Purchase Agreement for a 2020 Pipehunter trailer (used for cleaning culverts) priced at $55,995, with monthly rental payments of $5,700 through December 2025 and a remaining balance of $33,195 due Jan. 1, 2026. Legal counsel Todd Luckman recommended restructuring the paperwork as a 2025 rental agreement and a separate 2026 purchase contract; the board approved the rental agreement ($5,700 per month for four months) with the option to purchase for $33,195 on Jan. 1, 2026.
Tipton also presented a quote from Knapheide Truck Equipment Center for a complete snowplow package (motor, mount, plow, and lights) for $9,373. Member Mathes moved to approve the snowplow purchase as presented; Member Glasgow seconded and the motion passed.
In the fire department report Chief Lady said the department has responded to 787 calls so far in 2025, is working with KBS and HTK on plans and bond promotion for a new fire station, and is developing a community risk analysis, standard of cover and strategic plan for future presentation to the board. He reported the department is migrating from the NFIRS records system to NERIS (required by November 2025), has obtained DEA and Kansas Pharmacy licenses that allow procurement of necessary drugs through McKesson Pharmacy, and has submitted a KSFFA grant request for $15,800 to reimburse expenses for newly hired employees; a second KSFFA submission is planned to reimburse up to $3,700 for each of four hires. Chief Lady said Soldier Township will be the first fire department in Shawnee County to operate in the Paramedic Scope.
Administrator Audree Guzman also reported on campaign materials and community outreach for the proposed new fire station, finalization of the adjacent lot purchase (Aug. 14), and scheduling of an open house on Nov. 9. The board recessed into a five-minute executive session later in the meeting to discuss an attorney-client privileged claim and returned to open session before adjourning.
