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Council approves 2025 appropriations and authorizes funds for ambulance cardiac monitor, delays purchase pending MOU and warranty review
Summary
The Bryan City Council approved Ordinance No. 61 20 25 for annual appropriations, including a minor $88 police training cleanup and funds earmarked for a cardiac monitor for a shared ambulance; councilors agreed to delay any purchase order until county de-escalation terms and warranty details are finalized.
The Bryan City Council approved Ordinance No. 61 20 25 on Dec. 1, 2025, adopting annual appropriations for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2025, including a minor $88 police training-grant appropriation and authorization to fund a cardiac monitor for a shared ambulance arrangement with the county. Mayor (Speaker 1) and council staff said the monitor would improve on-scene cardiac monitoring and allow paramedics to deliver recorded telemetry directly to hospital emergency departments.
Council members debated the cost and expected lifespan of the device. "So those new are somewhere between $30,000 and $60,000," said Unidentified Speaker 5, describing vendor estimates and earlier budget discussions. Councilmembers questioned whether to buy a refurbished unit with a shorter warranty or a new unit with greater longevity; Unidentified Speaker 3 said the price difference for a new model could be "$9,000 more" in some scenarios. Unidentified Speaker 4 told the council that budget planners had tentatively set aside $35,000 for the 2026 budget assuming a refurbished purchase.
Speaker 5 told the council the city and county are negotiating an updated memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would include a de‑escalation buy-back clause to protect the city's investment if the county later assumes the ambulance. "If that agreement would go to the wayside and they would take over that ambulance, they would buy this heart monitor back from us on a de‑escalation scale," Speaker 5 said, describing a proposal that would return a greater share of the purchase price in earlier years and less in later years.
Councilmembers supported passing the appropriation so funds are available for the current fiscal year but insisted that no purchase order (PO) be issued until staff returns with the final MOU language, confirmed warranty length and a firm price. "We just won't write a PO," Speaker 5 told the council, adding that the chief, EMS staff and county commissioners would be consulted before any PO is issued.
The ordinance passed following a motion, second and roll-call affirmations. The council also approved the small police grant cleanup of $88, which staff said was necessary to balance a 2024 training-grant line not spent until 2025.
Speaker 5 said staff will present warranty details, the final cost and the county's response on the buy-back/de‑escalation provision at the next council meeting. The council then moved to an executive session to discuss personnel and pending litigation.
The action allows the city to reserve funds now while preserving the council’s ability to choose between a refurbished or new monitor after receiving more detailed cost, warranty and MOU information.
