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Willows approves lease‑purchase of two refurbished ZOLL EKG monitors for fire department
Summary
The council approved a lease‑purchase agreement to acquire two refurbished ZOLL cardiac monitors for $57,000 total; the purchase relies on a $35,000 grant and a 0% interest purchase agreement to spread remaining payments over future fiscal years.
The Willows City Council approved a purchase/lease agreement to acquire two refurbished ZOLL EKG monitors and related charging equipment for the fire department.
Fire Chief Nate Monk told the council the total cost, including cables and charging stations, was about $57,000, “so about $23,000 more than what we received in grant funding,” and that the department selected refurbished ZOLL units to lower cost while maintaining compatibility with local ambulance providers.
To reduce up‑front impact on the general fund, Monk said ZOLL offered a zero‑interest purchase agreement. Under the plan staff described, the city would apply the $35,000 grant this fiscal year and pay roughly 66% of the total this year (about $38,000 including the grant), have no payment in 2025–26, and then make smaller payments in subsequent years (roughly $9,000 each in later budget years). Monk said the monitors have an anticipated service life of about 10 years.
Council discussion and vote
Council members asked operational questions about who may use the monitors and about ongoing maintenance costs. Monk said EMTs can perform many functions (blood pressure cycles, 12‑lead capture) but are not authorized to interpret results; paramedics will provide advanced interpretation. He estimated annual consumables and maintenance for the monitors might run on the order of $1,000–$2,000 depending on usage and incidental damage.
Council voted to approve the lease‑purchase agreement; the motion passed 5–0.
Ending
Monk said the monitors should arrive in roughly six to eight weeks and that department policy, inventory and training work will continue to prepare for ALS operations and to satisfy certification requirements before the units enter service.
