Council approves $23,284 budget increase to buy and retrofit retired ambulance for police mobile command

The Marshfield Common Council voted Feb. 25 to approve budget resolution 08-2025, increasing the 2025 Public Safety Capital Overlay Fund by $23,284 to purchase and retrofit a retired ambulance for use as the police department’s mobile command vehicle.

Finance Director Jennifer Salinski presented the request on behalf of Police Chief Gehring, who was on vacation. Salinski said the police special response team relies on a mobile command unit—previously a retired ambulance—that recently suffered a major failure. The department evaluated Ambulance 98, recently replaced with a new unit in the EMS fleet, and concluded it was suitable to transfer to police rather than buying a new vehicle on the open market. "That ambulance has suffered a major failure. And this is a really important vehicle for the police department," Salinski said.

Alderman Spieros asked whether the $23,284 covered both purchase and retrofit; Salinski confirmed that it was the total estimated cost. Council members also asked whether the ambulance would be traded in or auctioned if not transferred; Salinski said it would have gone to auction. The motion to approve the budget amendment was made by Alderman Varshall and seconded by Alderman Tompkins and passed without recorded roll-call in the transcript.

The resolution authorizes the purchase and retrofit to equip the vehicle for communications and shelter functions used in emergency response. The council recorded the motion as passed; no additional conditions or amendments were recorded.