By Bradly Gill
News Editor
The Camden City Council unanimously approved the purchase of a new pump truck for the Camden Fire Department at a special called meeting Tuesday night.
Aldermen Terrie Smith and James Bell were absent from the meeting.
The Pierce Saber FR will be purchased from the Houston Galveston Area Cooperative, which assists local governments in reducing costs through this government-to-government procurement services.
While the initial price for the truck is $542,000, a 2 percent discount at purchase time will save the city $10,000, plus $32,000 that the council will pay upon delivery means that all in all $532,000 will be spent on the truck.
Chief Ron Nash said that was of August 1, a 2 percent increase in the price was expected and further price increases would come in the year, thus it was prudent to purchase the truck sooner rather than later.
Alderman L.E. Lindsey suggested that language be added with a penalty clause of $1,000 a month if the truck is not delivered by January of 2023.
City Attorney Michael Frey said that the competitive bidding process was met because the Cooperative oversees the bidding process before a contract is drawn up.