Budget workshop: fire chief seeks replacement parts, hose, testing and vehicle finish‑outs

Chief Burnside presented capital requests and maintenance priorities for the fire department at the council’s Aug. 14 budget workshop.
Major items and cost context: The chief listed multiple capital needs: replacement of older hose that failed recent testing; repair or replacement of the truck’s deck gun (estimates discussed between approximately $6,000 and $14,000 depending on the repair or replacement approach); preventive maintenance contracts for breathing‑air compressors, lifesaving monitors and radios; and modest vehicle finish‑outs for a utility/command vehicle (wrap, lights and equipment mounts estimated as $3,000–$15,000 depending on the level of finish).
Chief noted aging equipment and timelines: He said the department’s breathing‑air packs and related compressor service will likely be a multi‑year significant expense (packs and compressors have replacement and service cycles). He urged planning and recommended applying for federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and other grants for major shop or apparatus upgrades and for an extractor/drying system for bunker gear; he said one vendor quoted annual preventive maintenance for certain equipment (platform, engine, breathing‑air compressor tests) and recommended budgeting for those recurring contracts.
Safety and procurement tradeoffs: Council and staff discussed whether to fund repairs or to purchase new equipment for some items; for some systems (deck gun, aerial testing, pump testing) third‑party specialists are required. The chief said he can delay certain purchases but stressed annual hose testing and replacement obligations and the need to maintain pump, aerial and breathing‑air certifications for safe operations.
Next steps: Staff will consolidate vendor quotes, include preventive‑maintenance contract costs in the capital and operating drafts, and pursue grant options for major expenditures. No capital purchases were approved at the workshop; council members suggested prioritizing immediate safety items and seeking grant funding where possible.