John Coffelt, Editor

A ballpark estimate for a new Manchester Fire Department fire engine falls anywhere from $875,000 to $950,000 depending on whether federal tariffs will be added to the price.

Fire Chief George Chambers told the Finance Committee during the April 15 meeting that the dealer estimated that tariffs (currently on a 90-day moratorium) would amount to $40,000.

The city is on a five-year cycle for the purchase, but with the roughly 18-month lead time on the fire truck it will be about nine years since the last fire engine was purchased.

Once the city bids the truck and places the order, the funds will be restricted but will not be dispersed until time for delivery, giving the city time to further strengthen its fund balance.

Chambers said that the city could likely find additional savings by certain equipment choices.

The Committee approved 3-0 a motion to start the bidding process.

The city last purchased a firetruck in 2018 with the intention to continue on a five-year cycle.

Vice Mayor Mark Messick said with the longevity of a firetruck, the cycle should be stretched out longer than that next time.

Committee approves $32K fire inspector truck, looks at new patrol cars

The Finance Committee also approved a request for the purchase of a Ford Maverick truck for $32,055 that will be used by the city Fire Inspector.

The truck will replace the 2000-era Chevy Silverado currently used by the inspector.

The Manchester Police Department will rotate four new vehicles into its fleet with new purchases. The city is three years into a plan to add four new cars each year to the fleet.

Mayor Joey Hobbs requested the purchase from this year’s budget rather than wait until next year, using some surplus money in the Police Department’s budget.

“We will leave the same line item for vehicles next year,” Hobbs said. “But they have some other items that they are looking at to integrate and upgrade. This will help us save money by getting them early before tariffs and those things happen.”

“Last year we all agreed to take like $1-something million out of the general fund to make ourselves whole. I don’t think we’re going to have to take anything out of the general fund to make ourselves whole in the new budget,” Hobbs said.

“That’s why we’re trying to get ahead on a few things,” Hobbs said. “You just don’t know what the market is going to be in another 3-4 months. It could cost us another $30,000-$40,000 to buy the same vehicle.”

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.