Sedgwick County Fire District 1 approves $118,887 bid for 4x4 utility-bed response truck

The governing body of Fire District No. 1 voted Dec. 11 to accept a bid from Rusty Act Ford Incorporated for a model four-wheel-drive utility-bed fire response truck for $118,887.

Lee, the presenter for the Board of Bids and Contracts item, said the board’s recommendation was “to accept the bid from Rusty Act Ford Incorporated in the amount of $118,887.” The procurement was presented as a replacement for one of two utility-bed trucks in the district’s fleet.

Commissioner Howe said he supported the bid-board recommendation but urged caution about disposing of the replaced vehicle, noting the truck is about 10 years old and has “only has 110,000 miles on it.” Howe asked whether the vehicle could be kept longer or sold on Purple Wave and said he wanted the steering council to weigh in on fire-district purchases because “if we spend $120,000 that money can’t go towards salaries or whatever else we think is important.”

Fire Chief Doug Williams told commissioners the department presented its full fleet plan to the steering council in September and that the steering council had reviewed the planned replacements. County CFO Lindsey Porusso confirmed the county’s Charter 68 applies to purchases and that changing procurement procedures for the fire district would require a charter amendment and related notice requirements (see separate coverage of procurement rules).

Chairman Beatty moved to approve the recommendations of the Board of Bids and Contracts for Dec. 5, 2024; the motion was seconded and the clerk recorded unanimous support (ayes from Commissioners listed in the roll call). The motion carried and the item was approved.

The meeting adjourned with no executive session scheduled for the fire district.