City Bids Ladder Truck, Approves Purchase of Water Circulators

In two separate moves, the Pierre City Commission approved a request to bid a new ladder truck and approved a request to purchase water circulators.

Ladder Truck

At the Dec. 17 meeting, the Pierre City Commission approved a request to bid a new ladder truck for the Pierre Volunteer Fire Department. The city budgeted for the new truck in its 2025 budget and will continue to for a few more years.

“These trucks generally have a three-year lead time and cost in the neighborhood of $2 million,” said Fire Chief Ian Paul. “We started planning for it during the last budget season and plan to have enough set aside for the truck by the time it’s complete.”

The department’s current ladder truck is nearly 20 years old and has an estimated resale value of $250,000. 

Water Circulators

At the Tuesday meeting, the commission also approved the $65,000 purchase of 5 water circulators. The circulators will be installed at the city’s drinking water reservoirs. Brad Palmer, City Utilities Director, says that the equipment is needed now that Pierre has treated drinking water. 

“The water composition is slightly different than when we sourced our potable water from wells, said Palmer. “The circulators will help keep the composition consistent throughout all of the tanks.”

Palmer added, “In the summer, we cycle through enough water the circulation equipment is unnecessary. During the winter months when the community uses less water, the new equipment will help maintain our high, water-quality standards.” 

The city will install the equipment in 2025.