Kinston council revisits fire engine purchase after price increase
The Kinston City Council on Tuesday approved a revised price for a new fire engine after city staff reported a manufacturer increase pushed the cost above the amount approved earlier this month.
Fire Chief Chad Jackson told the council the city had previously approved up to $990,000 for a new E-One Typhoon pumper through the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing program. After that vote, the city received a final contract reflecting a $44,000 increase, bringing the truck’s cost to $1,034,000. With an additional $200,000 budgeted for equipment, the total project amount rose to $1,234,000.
In a memo included in the council packet, Jackson wrote that staff had “been given assurance that once the contract is signed and submitted there will be no price increases placed on this build.” A separate letter from E-One regional sales manager Justin Rice said the company implemented a 4.5 percent apparatus price increase effective Oct. 1, 2025, citing rising labor, supply and material costs.
Jackson told council the city still stood to benefit by moving forward under the Sourcewell arrangement.
“I still believe based on the current market prices and situations and talking with other chiefs, if you were to go away from Sourcewell and go back out to bid, the numbers for that same truck would probably be closer to 1.2, 1.3 million dollars,” Jackson said in the meeting.
Council members asked about the added equipment budget, taxes and possible financing.
Jackson said the extra $200,000 is intended to ensure the new truck can be fully outfitted when it arrives.
“When you buy it, we’re buying it. There will be nothing in it,” Jackson said. “When you buy a new truck, you want to put the newest, safest equipment on it for our employees and our citizens.”
Asked why the city needed to replace the apparatus rather than repair an existing one, Jackson said the truck being replaced is nearing the end of its useful life.
“We’re replacing these because of their age,” he said. “This truck, when it comes in is going to replace one that will end up being 37 years old.”
Finance Director Donna Goodson told council the city expects to initially use fund balance for the project, while keeping open the option of financing later if needed. Interim City Manager Ralph Clark said the proposed capital project ordinance would shift money from unrestricted to restricted fund balance for the purchase.
The motion to approve the revised truck price passed unanimously. Council then approved the related capital project ordinance for $1,234,000.
