The Bellaire City Council authorized the city manager to sign a letter of intent to purchase a custom fire engine, at a price not to exceed $1,600,000, to replace aging apparatus and preserve the department’s insurance service objectives.

Fire Chief Deacon Tittle told the council the department needs a custom-built apparatus because Bellaire requires a 35-foot ladder for its insurance services office (ISO) rating. "We can't just buy a cookie-cutter truck," Chief Tittle said. He described a committee of engine operators and shift commanders that evaluated multiple manufacturers and recommended a Spartan/Metro apparatus. Tittle said the vendor’s timeline was 18 to 24 months from commitment and that no payment to the manufacturer is required until delivery.

Council members asked about procurement and financing. Chief Tittle said the purchase will be competitively financed later and that previous experience showed wide variation in lead times and deposit requirements among manufacturers. He said Pierce quoted a four-year build time and required earlier payments, while the Spartan/Metro option holds the quoted price without payment until delivery.

Chief Tittle also reviewed maintenance costs and the operational history of older equipment. He said the older 2003 apparatus had accumulated heavy repair costs and that the department had spent substantial sums just to keep it operable. Councilmembers sought assurance about delivery schedules, contract remedies and warranties; Tittle said the final contract will specify delivery dates, penalties and warranty terms and that he would provide specific warranty language later.

The council voted unanimously to authorize the city manager to execute paperwork to sign the letter of intent and proceed with the purchase process.