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Hinsdale trustees discuss ordering replacement ambulance amid multi-year lead times
Summary
Trustees reviewed a recommendation to order a new Braun ambulance now to secure production capacity and pricing; the quoted cost is $498,664, the CIP budget allocates $464,000 and current lead times mean delivery may not occur until 2029'2030.
Village staff and trustees discussed the planned replacement of the Hinsdale Fire Department's secondary ambulance at the Feb. 17 board meeting and recommended placing an order now because current manufacturing lead times can extend three to four years.
Trustee Siffler explained the village operates two ambulances; the primary unit was delivered in September 2025 and the secondary unit (delivered in 2017) is expected to exceed the village's replacement policy (10 years and more than 60,000 miles) by the time a replacement could be delivered. The capital improvement plan (CIP) for 2026'2030 budgets $464,000 for the ambulance and power cot/load system, but the quoted total cost from the manufacturer is $498,664, roughly 7'1/2 percent over the current budget number.
Trustees asked about reasons for the price increase and current vehicle delivery schedules. Staff and the fire chief said industry-wide price increases and supply-chain and labor constraints have increased costs; similar heavy-equipment orders, such as a snorkel truck ordered in September 2024, have also experienced production delays (the snorkel'truck delivery was pushed to January 2027). The presenters emphasized that approving an order now would not require immediate funding but would secure production capacity and lock current pricing.
No final purchase vote was recorded for the ambulance at this meeting; trustees continued discussion and asked staff to monitor delivery options and budget impacts.
