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Oak Grove to Seek More Bids, Delay Vote on Cintas AED Maintenance Contract
Summary
City staff reported multiple automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are near or past service life. Staff recommended a Cintas maintenance contract but aldermen asked for competing quotes and site consolidation; no contract was approved.
City staff told the Oak Grove Board of Aldermen on Sept. 2 that several public AEDs are near or past their service life and recommended a Cintas maintenance contract, but aldermen asked staff to seek competing bids and return with more detail before any formal purchase or long-term contract. Scott, a city staff member, said multiple units require pad or battery replacement and some units are no longer serviced by their manufacturers.
The staff presentation said the city currently has a mix of AED models, several are “near failure or failed state,” and consolidating to a single model would simplify inspections and maintenance. Scott said the vendor would inspect units monthly under the proposed contract and that buying all-new matching units would cost about $2,000 apiece (staff estimated roughly $14,000 for seven units). He also said some existing units are not operable and that replacement pads expire with age even if unused.
Alderman Pam Pope and other members raised cost and procurement concerns, asking whether the city could buy units and contract locally for inspections or use municipal referrals. “I think it’s worth spending a little more time on it,” Pope said, urging staff to seek alternative vendors and municipal peers for referrals. Scott said he would gather additional quotes and competitor information to return to the board at a future meeting.
Aldermen also discussed site placement and redundancy. One member asked whether two AEDs in City Hall were necessary given the short distance between lobbies; Scott said placement can be adjusted and that the Davis Center and Ball Fields Complex units are currently down. Council members suggested temporarily renting portable units for high‑priority locations while repairs or replacements are arranged; Scott agreed the Davis Center and the police detention area should be prioritized.
No motion or vote was taken. The board gave staff direction to obtain competing bids for both purchase and maintenance options, confirm warranty and service-life details from manufacturers, identify which sites need immediate replacement or temporary rental units, and report back at the next meeting. Scott said most warranties he had seen run about five years but that unit service life and manufacturer support vary.
Why it matters: AED availability and maintenance directly affect emergency response at city facilities. Board members pressed for cost comparisons and clearer service terms before committing to an ongoing maintenance contract.
What’s next: Staff will seek additional vendor quotes, clarify warranty and certification requirements, and return to the board with recommended procurement options and pricing at a future meeting.
