La Conner council approves ambulance purchase, emergency communications and evacuation agreements

The La Conner Town Council approved a set of measures intended to bolster emergency response and continuity after staff described recent operational gaps.

An agency official said the town’s ambulance was in maintenance and parts were not available because of the vehicle’s age, leaving the town temporarily without a dedicated ambulance. Staff reported an offer to buy a surplus rescue ambulance from another city at a discounted price of $13,000; the council approved a resolution authorizing the purchase and directed staff to make necessary budget adjustments.

Council also approved a managed emergency communications package to maintain resilient internet/communications for incidents (a state‑contract vendor to manage Starlink‑based connectivity). Staff said the package is a managed subscription that includes hardware, battery cases and vendor maintenance so the town would not have to build and operate the system in‑house.

Separately, council approved a sole‑source repair contract with TriNet Pump and Equipment for a pump repair estimated at $21,306.76 and approved a one‑page agreement designating Maple Hall and the Garden Club as off‑site evacuation locations with the school district. Council also approved joining a Joint Operations Area (JOG) platform for multi‑agency incident coordination; staff said there is no cost to the town for onboarding and asked that the mayor or other designated signer execute the agreement.

Councilors emphasized operational details, including where equipment will be housed, access protocols and monthly maintenance checks for the managed communications package. The measures passed by motion and will be implemented by public safety staff, public works and planning as appropriate.