The El Campo City Council unanimously approved Resolution R‑2025‑45 on Sept. 8 to purchase five Hamilton T1 ventilators with accessories and a five‑year extended service plan.

Garrett, the city’s EMS representative at the meeting, described the new ventilators as technologically advanced, able to adapt to patients’ lung compliance and to reduce manual settings that can introduce human error. Garrett said the city plans to use excess revenue from EMS billing to pay for capital equipment purchases this year.

Cost and contract details discussed at the meeting: staff said the total package with a five‑year service plan is approximately $135,500, with a payment of roughly $82,500 this year and annual service payments of about $10,600 thereafter. Staff explained the five‑year service plan secures a discount on future service costs. Garrett said the existing ventilators are roughly five to seven years old and that resale options are limited because older units often require manufacturer‑authorized servicing; staff said they would attempt resale to other EMS services or consider donation, but that resale offers received so far were minimal.

Council members praised the clinical benefits. One council member said equipment that reduces time to evaluate a critical patient can save lives; another asked staff to include replacement planning in the city’s capital asset schedule.

Motion: A council member moved to approve Resolution R‑2025‑45; a second was received and the council approved the purchase unanimously.

Why it matters: The new ventilators are intended to improve patient care and to reduce the risk of equipment‑related error during emergency responses. The purchase commits part of EMS excess revenue to capital equipment and creates an ongoing service cost obligation over five years.