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Miami County EMS requests purchase order for ambulance unit; Hillsdale station near final occupancy
Summary
EMS chief outlined a planned purchase of a 2026 ambulance unit using ARPA and encumbered funds and provided a construction update on the Hillsdale EMS station, where final inspections and minor punch‑list items remain.
Frank Burrow, chief of Miami County EMS, told commissioners the vendor Lifeline does not require a down payment but the county must sign a purchase order agreement soon to secure delivery.
"They do not require any money down. We just have to sign a purchase order agreement," Burrow said. He advised the commission the county would likely need to execute that purchase order this month or early next month to receive the unit in the latter part of the first quarter of 2027.
Burrow and finance estimates described funding sources and existing budget entries: "Current the way we have it set in the 20 sixth budget, we have 172,000 in ARPA," he said. He also said the county had $100,000 encumbered from last year's budget and $55,000 budgeted in the vehicle line item, and noted EMS has seen repeated costly repairs on older units.
Burrow said the purchase is intended to restore fleet capacity; the department has operated with six frontline units and seeks to return to seven. No purchase order was signed during the study session; Burrow said the county will proceed with internal steps to execute a purchase order agreement if the commission approves committing funds.
On the Hillsdale EMS station, Burrow and staff reported that the final inspection has proceeded and several punch‑list items were being finished, including tests and repairs to outlets, cleaned and replaced flooring planks, garage floor treatment, door card readers tied into Paola, and pending installation of an ice machine and reverse osmosis system. A flexible section in the gas line for the standby generator remains to be installed to meet code requirements related to seismic movement, and the county is awaiting a letter of occupancy.
"We are just waiting for the final and get the letter of occupancy," Burrow said. Staff said they are coordinating remaining subcontractor work and plan to migrate crews to the new station after occupancy is granted.
