South Ogden approves a fire engine expected to take four and a half years to build

The South Ogden City Council voted 4–0 on Aug. 18, 2026, to adopt Resolution 26-25, approving an agreement with Siddons-Martin for the purchase of a fire engine. Council members Howard, Smyth, Stephens and Howe voted yes; Council Member Peterson was excused. ^[1]

The fire engine

Fire Chief Cameron West's staff memo says the engine would replace one at Station 82 and that production time is about four and one-half years from when the order is placed. ^[2]

The memo says current pricing is preserved if the city is under contract by Sept. 1, 2026, and asks that the contract be executed by then. It names the Truth in Taxation process and the associated property tax increase as the funding source. ^[2]

The Aug. 4 minutes list $281,300 for a new fire engine among the uses of the $476,331 the tax increase is expected to raise. That is an annual budget allocation, not the engine's price. ^[3]

West gave an overview at the meeting, and Council Member Stephens asked questions. The minutes do not record the questions or answers or a price. ^[1]

The proposal behind the agreement is in the packet, dated May 11, 2026. It lists a vehicle price of $1,275,892.00 and a full-prepay discount of $151,480.03, for a total of $1,124,411.97, the lower figure applying only if the city pays the prepayment invoice in full within 45 days of the invoice date unless otherwise agreed in writing. It says the price is guaranteed until Sept. 1, 2026 and delivery is within 49 to 50 months of the order date, and the proposal's terms add that dates are good-faith estimates and describe inflation and tariff adjustments. The price includes delivery and training. ^[6]

The seller's representative signed the proposal May 11, and the customer signature and date lines are blank, so the packet copy is a presented quote, not a signed order. The Ledger has no record of an order date, prepayment, delivery or final price, and does not treat the $281,300 annual allocation as the engine's price. The staff memo's four-and-a-half-year estimate is the memo's own statement, close to but not the same wording as the proposal's 49 to 50 months. ^[6][2]

The ambulance

On July 7, 2026, the council voted 4–0 to adopt Resolution 26-19, approving an agreement with Siddons-Martin for an ambulance. Council members Howard, Smyth, Stephens and Howe voted yes; Peterson was excused. ^[4]

West's staff memo recommends buying the ambulance "in the amount of $332,948" and says the price includes delivery and training. The memo does not name a funding source. ^[5]

The April 23, 2026 proposal is for a Road Rescue Ultramedic on a Ford F-550 chassis and states, "Delivery within 17-18 months of order date." It contains the lines "Price guaranteed until 6/23/2025" and "Additional: Price guaranteed for 60 days." ^[5]

The resolution's recital says the ambulance "must be ordered in this fiscal year but will be delivered in another fiscal year," and authorizes the city manager to negotiate remaining details before signing. ^[5]