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Commission approves county aid for local ambulance purchase and radio equipment
Summary
Commissioners voted to approve county funding to help Helady Ambulance replace its 20-year vehicle and to purchase radios; the board approved the request after presentations from ambulance representatives.
Dunn County commissioners approved a request from local ambulance representatives to help pay for a replacement ambulance and associated radio equipment.
Ambulance presenters told the commission their current ambulance fleet included a 20‑year-old vehicle and that rising repair and operating costs had strained the service's finances. They said the service ordered a replacement ambulance through a quicker procurement option and that radio replacements were needed to maintain communications interoperability.
County staff referenced a vendor quote for the radios of $106,043.06. Commissioners made a motion to provide county assistance covering the ambulance purchase and the radio quote as presented; the motion passed by roll-call vote.
Commissioners and ambulance representatives discussed other revenue sources the service had pursued, including local government support and gaming-venue funding; representatives said those avenues had not fully met operating needs. The commission voted to approve the funding request and asked staff to follow up on how the county disburses the funds and how the purchase will be coordinated with the ambulance provider.
Note: the ambulance presenters also described operating pressures — higher repair bills, staffing costs when they hire outside coverage, and reductions in prior local meal-tax funding that had supported emergency services. The commission approved the request at the meeting and recorded a unanimous vote.
