Johnston County approves group purchase plan for six fire tankers, seeks prepayment discount

The Johnston County Board of Commissioners approved a fire-service request May 4 to move forward with a group purchase of six tanker trucks, a procurement the presenters said will lower the unit cost and allow the county to establish a county standard for apparatus.

A fire-service representative said the group purchase saved the county $11,316 per truck and identified an additional discount of $17,700 per apparatus if the county prepays for chassis when they are delivered to the manufacturer. The commission asked the fire-service protection district to cover the cost to prepay chassis for four of the apparatus; the amount requested was $469,828 to secure the discount when chassis arrive. The procurement covers six tankers in total; two departments (Bethany and 5210) will use their own funds for their chassis.

"The group purchase saved us $11,316 per truck," the fire commission presenter said, and noted the potential $17,700 per-apparatus discount for prepayment.

Presenters said turnaround for tankers is lengthy — roughly 700 to 750 days — and asked the board to approve the request to prepay chassis to lock in savings. Commissioners discussed financing and cost-sharing with municipal departments and then approved the request by voice vote. The transcript records no roll-call tally.

The board record indicates the motion passed; procurement and financing details will be finalized by staff and the fire commission.