The Sheboygan Licensing, Hearings and Public Safety Committee on a voice vote authorized city officials to execute documents to buy a replacement ambulance from American Response Vehicles and to purchase equipment needed to outfit it, the committee chair said.

Fire Chief said the vehicle is consistent with the city’s capital improvement plan and the same vendor (AEV) was used on prior purchases. "They're running about a year and a half delay now," the Fire Chief said, urging the committee to approve the order to account for lead times.

Committee members confirmed the purchase was included in the CIP budget. Alder Perella asked whether the full amount had been approved in the budget; the chief confirmed it had. The chief said this would be the department’s fourth (or fourth/fifth) new ambulance in recent replacement cycles and explained the fleet goal is to maintain six frontline ambulances with two held in reserve because older units are "over 16 years old," beyond typical service life.

Alder Heidemann asked why about $63,000 in additional equipment could not be transferred from older ambulances. The Fire Chief said some ancillary items still within life expectancy would be transferred, but several items—such as new powered stretcher systems—must be replaced because brackets and vendors differ. "We're going from Stryker to Furno for the stretcher," the Fire Chief said.

The committee discussed leasing versus purchasing. The Fire Chief said leasing had been evaluated and, according to the city’s purchasing analysis, was not cost-effective given high vehicle mileage and wear.

A motion to approve the resolution was made, seconded and approved on a voice vote with the chair voting in the affirmative.

The committee’s action authorizes ordering the vehicle and the associated equipment; committee members said ordering now is intended to reduce the impact of current production delays. The city will return with any required follow-up procurement paperwork or implementation details as needed.