Council approves application for Local Share Account grant to help renovate Saint Marys ambulance facility

The council voted to support Resolution 25-08 to apply for a Local Share Account (LSA) grant to finance renovations at the Saint Marys ambulance facility. The measure passed by voice vote after council member Schley moved to file the application and Tony seconded.

Nick Verde, introduced by staff as representing the area—s Ambulance Association, told the council Saint Marys Ambulance staffs two full advanced-life-support crews 24 hours a day and relies heavily on grants for capital needs. "Saint Mary's Ambulance has been the same essential resource for the community," Verde said, describing a roster of more than 45 EMTs, paramedics and nurses and listing facility problems: an aging HVAC system that increases utility costs, an end-of-life video surveillance system that disrupts necessary playback, and security concerns for controlled substances stored at the station.

Staff explained the LSA grant is available to municipalities only and cannot be submitted directly by nonprofits; that is why the municipality must be the applicant. Council members asked about the competitiveness and timeline for the grant; staff said the application is due in September and indicated award decisions are typically months later (the transcript gives an approximate six-month expectation). The application process and award timeline were described in imprecise terms during the meeting.

The Ambulance Association provided a project cost in the presentation that appears truncated in the transcript (recorded as "$15"); the full project estimate or requested grant amount was not specified on the record.

Next steps: staff will prepare the LSA application on behalf of the municipality and submit it by the stated deadline; the council recorded its support by approving Resolution 25-08.