Commission authorizes solicitation for $2.8M financing to buy four rural fire apparatus

The county's finance director asked the commission to authorize solicitation of bids for $2,800,000 in financing to fund the purchase of four rural fire apparatus. The director said updated RFB language includes redemption and prepayment subsections and that the solicitation will be advertised Oct. 1 with submissions due by Oct. 22; staff aims to present to the board Oct. 28 and seek final approval Nov. 4 to capture anticipated price conditions.

Commissioners moved and seconded the authorization; the motion carried with unanimous approval. The finance director said the accelerated schedule was to account for price increases expected after Nov. 10 and that outreach to a financial advisor (Raymond James) had been conducted to vet redemption language.

The board's authorization allows staff to proceed with procurement of financing under the county's purchasing and debt issuance procedures and to return with recommended terms for approval.