Council approves ambulance purchase, sidewalk contract extension and multiple appointments; tables HydroCorp extension

Lincoln Park City Council approved a package of routine and capital items at its meeting, including the purchase of a frontline ambulance, a one-year contract extension for sidewalk repairs at previously quoted unit rates, several board and commission appointments and a conditioned used auto dealer license. Councilors withdrew support for and tabled a proposed two-year contract extension with HydroCorp to continue the residential cross-connection (backflow prevention) program.

The most costly approval was a resolution authorizing purchase of a Ford F-450 XLT 7.3L gasoline 4x4 Type 1 ambulance for $218,060, with funds to come from a capital improvement account. The council approved the purchase by roll call vote.

Separately, the council accepted an offer from KG Cement to extend its sidewalk repair contract at the contractor’s prior unit rates (4-inch sidewalk at $11.25 per square foot; 6-inch sidewalk at $12.50 per square foot). Councilors debated whether to re-bid the work to give local contractors a chance to compete but ultimately voted to approve the extension. The cost of the sidewalk program was noted to be covered by capital improvement funds.

A proposed two-year extension for HydroCorp to continue the city’s EGLE-mandated residential cross-connection (backflow prevention) program — a contract described in the meeting as a sole-source service that the vendor has provided for years — was pulled from the agenda after a council member asked for additional documentation. Support for that motion was withdrawn and the item was tabled for a future meeting.

The council also approved several appointments: Maureen Tobin to the Economic Development Corporation (term to expire 2021-05-01 in the resolution language), Euless Jones to the Downtown Development Authority (term to expire 2028-04-01), and multiple appointments to the Community Improvement Commission. The council approved the consent agenda (minutes, accounts payable, and other routine items) by roll call vote.

A separate resolution approved issuance of a new used-auto dealer license for Carhub LP at 855 Southfield Road, conditioned on meeting Planning Commission stipulations and building-department requirements; council amended the resolution during the meeting to add those conditions before passing it.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (minutes 01/27/2025; accounts payable; federal property exemption guidelines; PD training): Approved (roll call: all aye). - KG Cement — sidewalk contract extension at prior unit rates (4" @ $11.25/sq ft; 6" @ $12.50/sq ft): Approved (roll call: Nichols, Dupree, Baer, Ross, Salcedo, Zor/Zohr, Soar and Mayor Tobin recorded as yes). - HydroCorp — proposed two-year contract extension to support EGLE-mandated residential cross-connection program, total not to exceed $152,784 (account 592920928000): Support withdrawn; item tabled for later (no final vote). - Ambulance purchase — Ford F-450 XLT 7.3L 4x4 Type 1 ambulance, $218,060, funds from Capital Improvement account (410-001-98): Approved (roll call: council recorded as yes). - Appointments to boards/commissions (Maureen Tobin to EDC; Euless Jones to DDA; Elizabeth Joyce and Morgan Welborn to the Community Improvement Commission): Approved (roll call: yes). - Carhub LP (855 Southfield Road) — new used-auto dealer license: Approved as amended with conditions requiring compliance with Planning Commission stipulations, building department and other city codes and departments.

The meeting record shows roll-call votes for the adopted items cited above; the HydroCorp extension was removed from immediate consideration so council did not take a final vote on that contract extension.