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Delhi trustees hear plan to order new ambulance as departments face long manufacturing backlog
Summary
Fire Chief Doug Campbell told trustees the township will expedite ordering a new ambulance because of manufacturing delays; delivery is likely 30–36 months out and financing options will be considered.
Fire Chief Doug Campbell told the Delhi Township Board of Trustees on Wednesday that the township needs to move sooner than its usual schedule to order a new ambulance because of long manufacturing backlogs.
The chief said the township’s ambulance committee has reviewed current models and safety features and “we’re learning a lot as we go along,” and that while the department plans to place an order soon, delivery is likely “30 to 36 months out,” with some estimates closer to three years.
The issue matters because the department has been remounting new chassis on older ambulance bodies and facing increasing repair needs. Chief Campbell said the most recent remounts ran about $250,000, that “this newest one is gonna be $210,000,” and that cumulative replacement and remount costs discussed previously “are approaching $400,000 now for ambulance.” He told the board he hopes to bring a purchase proposal to the trustees in July.
Campbell described ongoing operational steps the department is taking while awaiting a new unit, including keeping remounted ambulances in service as a reserve and temporarily using equipment from other townships when needed: “If folks are seeing Green Township and Miami Township Ambulances, they do have Delhi Medics in them. It’s just we’re baring their equipment while we take care of PM service.”
Trustees and Chief Campbell discussed financing timing; Fiscal Officer Luby said there will be time to structure financing before delivery. Campbell noted the possibility of three-year financing to “keep the books clean” if necessary.
No formal motion or vote on procurement or financing was taken at the meeting. Chief Campbell and the board agreed he will present a formal proposal to trustees in July with more information on cost, timing and financing options.
Implementation details remain subject to the final proposal and vendor timelines; trustees did not authorize purchase or financing at the meeting.
