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COLUMBUS — The Colorado County Commissioners Court narrowly approved $100,000 in funding to the Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Department for a new pump truck and appointed an interim EMS di rector during its meeting, Monday, Sept. 28.
PUMP TRUCK
The court voted 3-2 to allocate $100,000 in the 2026-2027 fiscal year budget to support the purchase of a $650,000 pump truck for the Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Department presented by Fire Chief Kurt Sunderman.
Commissioners in favor voiced support for the truck that Sunderman said will handle calls primarily out of city limits and cited concerns over increasing costs over time. Those against encouraged seeking other funding sources and a desire to maintain an already tight budget.
“This is a countywide public safety investment, not solely as an Eagle Lake purchase,” Sunderman said. “Of the nine other fire departments in Colorado County, we are dispatched as automatic mutual aid for three… The truck will strengthen response coverage across this public county and provide dependable support when neighboring departments need additional personnel, water or equipment.”
The new pump truck would replace the county’s 35-year-old current one and feature have a 750-gallon water tank mounted on a single axel. Sunderman said the truck will not have the same level of features as the retiring one because an equivalent would cost closer to a million dollars.
Sunderman said ELVFD has secured $550,000 out of the $650,000 total across a $330,000 Texas A&M Forest Service grant, $120,000 from the city of Eagle Lake and $100,000 to $120,000 from the department itself.
“We have deliberately chosen a practical, versatile apparatus rather than a more expensive option. The timing is important. We should not place a $650,000 truck on order until the funding is secure,” Sunderman said. “A county commitment now would close the gap, protect the grant and local funds already assembled, and al low the department to move forward before costs, availability or production timelines change.”
Pct. 2 Commissioner Ryan Brandt led opposition against the funding. He said the county denied funding for Weimar Volunteer Fire Department to repair one of their pump trucks two years ago. Brandt added that he did not want to set a new precedent.
“I respect each and every one of you (firefighters) that take on that responsibility to do that. My job sitting here is to make sure I do a job that is fiscally responsible for the county,” Brandt said. “Right now, I don’t think that we are in the position to give $100,000 outside of the budget that we’ve already passed for next year or to take it out of this year’s budget.”
County Judge Ty Prause voted for the funding and said the county would assess the need versus desire for similar requests when they arise. Prause noted how different demographics in the area likely affect the fundraising capabilities of ELVFD.
“When you look at the different parts of our county…the demographics in Eagle Lake, as you know, just cannot support what other parts and what other fire departments are able to generate as far as fundraising,” Prause said.
Pct. 4 Commissioner Darrell Gertson and Prause said the county will look into making up the difference throughout the fiscal year. Both discussed approaching companies with solar farms and battery energy storage system near Rock Island for financial support.
“I wouldn’t have any hesitation in asking for their participation in that exact amount that you’re requesting,” Prause said.
Brandt and Pct. 3 Commissioner Keith Neuendorff voted against the motion. Prause, Gertson and Pct. 1 Commissioner Shannon Owers voted for the motion.
EMS LEADERSHIP
The court unanimously appointed Colorado County EMS Assistant Director Marti Ingvardsen to serve as the Interim EMS Director. The appointment follows EMS Director Michael Furrh’s resignation submitted earl ier this month effective Oct. 31.
The court then approved to shift the EMS Administrative Assistant position from part-time to full-time starting Nov. 1.
“There’s still a lot of general admin that I carry that would be quite a bit of an extra load on top of the new responsibilities, so just having someone there that can help and utilizing what’s the remainder of the EMS director salary through the end of the year would just be very, very helpful,” Ingvardsen said.
