$1.7M in vehicles, equipment purchased for Apache Junction
Arianna Grainey
The Apache Junction Police Department is seeking three replacement vehicles for detectives, one replacement vehicle for administration and six additional patrol vehicles.
Spending more than $1.7 million for city vehicles, a tractor, chip-seal machine and equipment was recently approved by the Apache Junction City Council.
The council voted unanimously Aug. 5 as part of a consent agenda with other items to approve the procurement of city vehicles and equipment for fiscal year 2026 through an Arizona state cooperative contract with San Tan Ford, Sourcewell contract with Crafco, Sourcewell contract with RDO Equipment and a state of Arizona cooperative contract for lighting and equipment for a total not to exceed $1,716,000.
A total of $1.35 million is needed for police, development services, library, motor pool, and parks and recreation vehicles and equipment, Public Works Deputy Director Shane Kiesow said during a July 14 council work session.
“These are vehicles and equipment that you guys authorized as part of the fiscal year 2026 budget, so we’re just looking tonight to have a discussion, bringing back your attention to the vehicles that we’re looking forward to replace,” he said.
The older vehicles being replaced will be sold and the funds put back in the city’s coffers.
“When we sell a vehicle we know it was paid out of the general fund so when we sell it, those salvage revenues go back to it. Same with (Highway User Revenue Funds), we know it was purchased out of HURF so it goes back” to the city’s HURF money budget, Kiesow said during the council work session. “The only thing that might go back to the state are some grant-funded equipment like street sweepers that we got through a grant.”
The departments and number of vehicles sought are below.
Police department:
Detectives — one 2025 Ford Bronco to include lighting and equipment, to replace unit 20-404, a 2020 Ford Edge in fair/poor condition; one 2025 Ford Bronco to include lighting and equipment, to replace unit 20-371 in poor condition; and one 2025 Ford Bronco to include lighting and equipment, to replace unit 20-391, a 2018 Ford Explorer in fair/poor condition.
Administration — one 2025 Ford F-250 Supercrew cab 4X4 including lighting and equipment, to replace unit 20-288, a 2006 Ford F-250 in poor condition.
Patrol — six Ford Explorers to include lighting and equipment – all new additions.
Development services:
One additional vehicle, a 2025 Ford Explorer.
Library:
One 2025 Ford Explorer to replace unit 80-003, a 2013 Ford E-350 in poor condition.
Parks and recreation:
2025 Ford F-150 regular cab to replace unit 50-208, a 2001 Ford Ranger in poor condition; one 2025 Ford F-150 Responder to replace unit 50-217, a 2018 Ford F-150 in poor condition; one 2025 Ford F-350 DRW with a dump bed to replace 50-158, an Izusu MPR in poor condition; two 2025 Ford F-150 regular cabs – new additions; and one 2025 Ford F-250 regular cab – a new addition.
Motor pool – City Hall:
One 2025 Ford Explorer – to replace unit 00-005 in poor condition.
A total of $370,000 in Highway User Revenue Funds is to be used for vehicles and accessories sought for public works, Kiesow said.
Public works is seeking one 2025 Ford XL F-350 with dump bed, one 2025 John Deere 210P gannon tractor and one 2025 Crafco Supershot 250 crack fill machine to replace 30-251, a 2007 crack-fill machine in fair/poor condition.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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