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Council directs ambulance committee to pursue talks with private providers; funding for three ordered ambulances remains unresolved
Summary
Councilors authorized an ambulance committee to evaluate private providers while discussing funding plans for three ambulances already on order and the implications for city reserves and a potential taxing district.
The International Falls City Council on Aug. 4 directed an ambulance committee to conduct routine outreach to private ambulance providers and discussed how to fund three ambulances already on order.
Councilors moved, and carried unanimously, to direct the ambulance committee — Councilors Holden and Buller — to reach out to private ambulance providers as part of due diligence. The motion was described as routine fact-finding, not a decision to transfer service.
Council discussion focused on funding for three ambulances that the city has ordered and on options including municipal borrowing, municipal leasing, a taxing district, county takeover, or subsidy arrangements with private operators. Chief Manasseh told the council the procurement plan had been presented previously and that the city had budgeted and staged funds across years: a Couchiching County donation, public safety funds, and budgeted capital outlays carried from 2023 and 2024. He said the city had evaluated municipal leasing but decided it was not financially sound at the time.
Councilors emphasized that moving funds from the city’s general reserves to the ambulance fund increases the ambulance service’s obligations and reduces general-fund reserves. Mayor Bridal said the council must consider levy increases to avoid depleting reserves and noted audit concerns tied to the city’s low reserve level.
Public comment was strongly in favor of keeping ambulance service as a municipal responsibility. Resident Alan Cruz said: “The city needs the ambulance, period.” Several residents and councilors referenced earlier studies of a taxing district and the practicalities of equipment transfer if the service is moved to another provider.
What happens next: Committee members were authorized to hold conversations with prospective private providers and return findings to the council. Chief Manasseh indicated formal quotes about remounting ambulance boxes and other procurement costs were pending and would be provided to the council when available.
