The city has been without a third ladder truck for about two years, after a ladder truck from Station 4 on the city's East Side was decommissioned because it wasn't passing safety inspections, Williams said. The ladder truck on loan came from Denver, Colorado, which arrived at no cost to the city, is owned by New England Fire Equipment, he said.

"It's considered a loaner ladder that they offer us to use in anticipation of delivery of our brand new ladder," Williams said.

The ladder has "passed all safety inspections and it's right up to snuff for what we need," Williams said.

Weber was being taken to the hospital after a crash on Highway 83 at Black Bear Boulevard in Mukwonago. According to Mukwonago Police Chief Kevin Schmidt, Weber was northbound on Highway 83 on a motorcycle when a 2008 Mercury sedan pulled out from Black Bear Boulevard to head south on 83. Weber's motorcycle struck the rear of the sedan.

The driver of the car, a 91-year-old man from Burlington, was taken to Waukesha Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.

Weber, who was not wearing a helmet, sustained a serious head injury when he was thrown from his motorcycle, said Schmidt.

Mukwonago Fire Chief Jeff Stien said Weber was in very critical condition before he was transported by the Mukwonago Fire Department ambulance, but he is unsure whether "anything after that contributed" to his death.

City Fire Chief Steve Lohr appeared before the council last week to request that it expedite the purchase of the second truck.

The previous administration agreed to purchase the second truck in 2018, but Lohr told the council and Mayor David S. Gysberts that he has been able to line up a discount from the Pierce manufacturing company if the vehicle was purchased now.

Since the city purchased the first truck, Pierce has imposed three 3.5 percent price increases, and a similar hike is anticipated in October, he said.

Lohr said Pierce quoted him a subtotal price of about $1.3 million for the second truck. But if the city purchases the truck now, it would enjoy several discounts bringing the price down to $1.2 million, he said.

In addition, the Western Enterprise Fire Co., where the second truck would be headquartered, has agreed to contribute $150,000 toward the purchase, bringing the city's cost down to a little more than $1 million, according to Lohr.