St. Albert city council has approved spending an additional $360,600 on purchasing a new fire engine, bringing the new engine’s total cost up to $1.38 million.
St. Albert communications advisory Marci Ng said in an email the city only received two bids for a replacement fire engine, and only one was compliant. That one cost more than the city’s allocated budget. The bid was for $1,377,595.
Ng pointed to tariffs on steel, inflation and the U.S. exchange rate as reasons for the difference in cost.
Council went in camera Monday before passing a motion to approve the increase in spending, citing legal sensitivities as the reason for not publicly discussing the purchase.
The fire engine replacement will be funded through the city’s public works mobile equipment replacement plan.
