The West Valley City Council has approved purchase of a new fire engine, authorized a study of operations of the Granger Hunter Improvement District, and rehired a consultant to represent the city in Washington, D.C.

At its Nov. 7 meeting, the council approved purchase of a Pierce fire engine to replace a 2002 Pierce engine that has been in service but is no longer deemed usable. Fire Chief John Evans reported that in April, an inspection of the engine found frame rails were fractured and broken in several places. The department found a ready-built Pierce engine with availability within six to seven months—meaning the city wouldn’t have to wait for up to two years, the usual lead time, to get a new one. The current engine will remain in service as a backup until the new engine arrives.

Councilmembers discussed the possibility of either a lease-purchase over a 10- or 15-year period, or paying cash up front from the unreserved general fund. They voted to make the one-time purchase for $738,904, saving the city several hundred thousand dollars.

A utility study of the Granger Hunter Improvement District was authorized, with the city matching $100,000 with an anticipated $100,000 from the district. The money will be used to acquire professional services to examine both the district and the city’s operations of the GHID. The request was made by Public Works Director Daniel Johnson.

West Valley will continue its partnership with The Hamm Consulting Group for representation in Washington, D.C. The council approved a three-year agreement for $225,000—$75,000 a year—paid in monthly installments. It runs through June 2026.

Ron Hamm of The Hamm Consulting Group has represented the city in Washington, D.C., for the past three years, and prior to that, was the city's representative with The Ferguson Group. Officials say the Hamm Consulting Group will help the city attain numerous goals and objectives and maintain an aggressive federal agenda. It also helps the city stay on track with legislative activity in the nation’s capital.

What the consultants can’t do is not represent the interest of local constituents to the city in pursuit of business from the federal government, won’t represent the city before Congressional committees or perform any legal, engineering, accounting or similar professional services.λ