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Milford council moves to pursue AED installations in parks after fire chief outlines ambulance purchase
Summary
Council directed staff to gather costs and implementation plans for installing monitored AEDs in city parks and discussed financing options; Fire Chief Baird reported the fire board approved purchasing a new ambulance (approx. $475,000) with delivery expected in 2–3 years.
Milford City Council signaled strong support for placing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in city parks and asked staff to return with detailed cost estimates, installation requirements and maintenance plans. The discussion followed a presentation of three procurement options; councilmembers favored an option with monitored cabinets and alarm/photo capture (referred to as 'option 3') and asked staff to provide costs for concrete pads, electrical hookups, annual maintenance and bulk pricing.
Fire Chief Mark Baird (identified in the meeting transcript as Chief Baird) reported that the fire board approved purchasing a new ambulance at a total purchase price of about $475,000. Chief Baird said the department expects to finance approximately $375,000 and cover the remaining roughly $100,000 with alternative funding and capital improvements money; delivery is expected in two to three years. He framed the purchase as restoring a three‑ambulance rotation to provide better operational redundancy.
Council discussed implementation details for AED placement including whether every park should receive a device, phasing options, sponsorship opportunities, and whether some funding could come from the existing 5 Points grant if placed at that site. Council requested staff return with a complete picture—unit price, installation, electrical work, ongoing maintenance and potential funding sources—so members could consider a phased rollout or a single‑year budget request.
Quote: "Seconds matter. If we're going to do this, I think we should do it right... It includes an annual maintenance plan for the AED and the cabinet." — Councilmember supporting option 3
What happens next: Staff will obtain vendor pricing (including bulk discounts), confirm whether 5 Points grant funds can be used for installations at that park, estimate the cost of concrete pads and electrical service and return to council with recommendations for ordinance or budget action.
