Commission reviews CIP and equipment reserves; ambulances, EKG machines and fleet replacement on watch list

A county budget and finance staff member briefed the Dickinson County Commission on the fiscal 2026 capital improvement plan (CIP), equipment reserve balances and special machinery funds and outlined anticipated fleet and equipment needs.

The presenter said the CIP is a planning tool that sets aside funds for expected purchases rather than authorizing immediate expenditures. For 2026 the materials showed a planned equipment-reserve allocation (listed on the CIP pages) of $808,000; staff told the commission the county’s current equipment-reserve balance is approximately $2.2 million and that the proposed budget includes a $450,000 transfer back into the equipment reserve to maintain a healthy balance.

Key items flagged as potentially requiring replacement or funding in the next planning years included: - EKG machines for emergency medical services: staff listed five machines at roughly $40,000 each (totaling about $200,000) as a future replacement need. - Ambulances: the CIP included an ambulance purchase amount of $265,000 for a unit and a remount/box replacement that staff estimated at $350,000 for a later year. Staff noted that ambulance manufacturing and delivery lead times can be 12–18 months and said the county often places orders in advance to secure placement in a production queue. - Fleet management and sheriff vehicles: sheriff units and other vehicles were listed across future years; some unit replacements have been funded through asset forfeiture dollars. Staff said vehicle timing and mileage will continue to be reviewed and that not every item on the plan will be purchased immediately.

The presenter said the county has five ambulances in service and that on occasion all units are occupied; mutual aid from neighboring counties is used when necessary. Staff also reported the special machinery fund (used for highway equipment and similar items) has about $1.4 million on hand and said many highway items can be refurbished rather than replaced.

Staff told commissioners the CIP is flexible: an item listed for a planning year does not automatically trigger an immediate purchase; purchases still require separate commission approval. The county said it is examining proposals from private fleet managers to determine whether alternative fleet-management strategies could offer financial or operational benefits.

Commissioners asked about the possibility of rebuilding trailers and extending the service life of highway equipment; staff recommended further review with the highway department and the county’s mechanics. No procurement decisions were made at the meeting; staff will return to commissioners with refined estimates as needed.