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Cheshire County reallocates $431,000 ARPA ambulance purchase to two Type 3 ambulances, commissioners approve
Summary
On Feb. 5 the Cheshire County commissioners voted to direct county EMS to replace a paid-for bariatric ambulance order with two Type 3 ambulances, using ARPA funds and authorizing up to $10,000 in additional spending. County EMS leaders said the change better matches current emergency-call needs and will improve reliability and operating costs.
Cheshire County commissioners on Feb. 5 approved a motion directing Cheshire County EMS to alter its ambulance order: rather than take delivery of a bariatric ambulance that the county previously funded with ARPA money, EMS will purchase two standard Type 3 ambulances expected for delivery in November 2025, with additional funding capped at $10,000.
The motion, made by Davis (role not specified) and seconded (second not specified in the transcript), passed unanimously: Commissioner Clark, Commissioner Stewart and Commissioner DeBernardo voted yes.
County EMS Captain Cummings, who identified himself as the fleet manager for Cheshire County EMS, told commissioners the system’s call mix has shifted since the county purchased six ambulances with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. "When Cheshire County EMS was established, it was based on the expectation ... that our service would primarily focus on inter facility transfers," Cummings said. He said that actual operations now are roughly 65% emergency responses and 35% interfacility transfers, and that the specialized bariatric vehicle has not been needed in any recorded instance since operations began.
"Despite investing $431,000 in this ambulance through the ARPA fund, we have not encountered a single instance where the specific vehicle would have been necessary for any of our emergency or inter facility transports," Cummings said, noting that nearby partners such as Great Brook Ambulance have bariatric capability and have agreed to provide bariatric transports "24/7 on call for any of our bariatric needs at no cost to us."
Cummings proposed reallocating the money earmarked for the bariatric unit to buy two Type 3 ambulances that match the layout of units already in service. He said the two Type 3 boxes cited in the presentation are stock units slated for November 2025 delivery and that converting the existing order would require at most $10,000 in additional county funding (he said the anticipated additional cost was about $8,700 but asked for a $10,000 maximum).
He provided operating-cost figures to justify the change. Cummings said Ambulance 2 currently costs about $0.98 per mile to operate (fuel and maintenance) and Ambulance 3 about $0.84 per mile, compared with Ambulance 1, a more comparable new-style unit, at about $0.37 per mile. Based on an anticipated 60,000 miles per year per unit, Cummings estimated the adjustment could save about $64,800 annually while improving reliability and crew safety.
Cummings also explained the county’s remounting strategy — taking a service module (the ambulance box), refurbishing it and mating it to a new chassis — as a longer-term cost-management plan. He said remount opportunities remain under review and that the county administrator is working on a capital improvement plan to phase replacements so units are not all replaced at once.
The short version of the request to commissioners, Cummings said, was "to repurpose the money that was designated for the bariatric, move over to buying 2 new ambulances of a different type ... and an additional $10,000 (max)." He said existing equipment such as stretchers and cardiac monitors would be moved into the new boxes and that the county already has that equipment on hand.
Votes at a glance - Motion to repurpose ARPA-funded bariatric ambulance purchase to two Type 3 ambulances, authorize chief to sign amended agreement, additional funds not to exceed $10,000: Approved (unanimous). Expected delivery: November 2025. Mover: Davis (role not specified). Second: not specified. Commissioners Clark, Stewart and DeBernardo voted yes. - Motion to approve an 8-week non‑FMLA leave of absence for a Maplewood staff member (staff will apply for short-term disability): Approved (unanimous). Motion and second not specified in transcript. Commissioners Clark, Stewart and DeBernardo voted yes. - Motion to approve consent agenda and minutes: Approved (unanimous). Motion and second not specified in transcript.
Why it matters: County EMS leaders said call patterns have shifted from primarily interfacility work to more emergency responses, increasing the need for ambulances with wider patient access and interior space for multiple providers. Commissioners authorized the funding reallocation and allowed county staff to finalize and sign amended purchase documents so the county can take delivery of ambulances that, EMS staff say, better match current operational needs.
What commissioners and staff said: Commissioner comments recorded in the meeting endorsed the staff recommendation; during discussion commissioners asked about delivery timing, remounting options and resale/repurposing of older units. The transcript shows the motion was brought forward, seconded and approved without recorded dissent.
