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Soldier Township OKs $579,100 tanker replacement and expands mutual aid with Shawnee County Fire District
Summary
The board approved replacing Tanker #71 with a Weis Fire & Safety tanker for $579,100 and authorized an updated mutual aid agreement with Shawnee County Fire District #1 that adds coverage for grass fires and highway vehicle collisions.
Soldier Township’s board on March 11 approved replacement of a primary fire tanker and ratified an updated mutual aid agreement with a neighboring fire district.
Fire Chief Chad Lady presented bids for replacing Tanker #71 and said current build times for apparatus are nearly two years. After discussion the board approved purchasing a new tanker from Weis Fire & Safety at a price of $579,100; Member Jerry Glasgow moved the motion and Trustee Chad Gerhardt seconded it; the motion carried.
Chief Lady also presented an updated mutual aid agreement with Shawnee County Fire District #1. The primary change in the new agreement is explicit inclusion of grass fires and motor vehicle collisions on highways. Member Glasgow moved to enter the mutual aid agreement; Member Gerhardt seconded and the motion carried.
Chief Lady reported operational context: while Tanker #71 is out of service awaiting parts, Hoyt Fire Department lent a tanker to Soldier Township; one fire department volunteer completed all fire training and is now enrolled in an EMT class at Washburn Tech; the department also hosted an "It Is Just That Simple" class for SCAFFA Fire School with 75 students over two days.
The minutes record motions as "carried" and do not list roll-call tallies. The tanker purchase is included in the township’s 2026 capital improvement plan and the procurement timeline will reflect the vendor's stated build time.
