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Waukesha council approves $35,000 reallocation to replace vehicle for mobile integrated health case manager
Summary
The Waukesha City Common Council voted 13–1 to reallocate $35,000 in CIP savings from an under‑budget fire safety trailer to purchase a Ford Escape to replace a 2015 vehicle used by the fire department’s mobile integrated health (MIH) case manager; the vehicle will not be equipped with emergency lights or sirens.
The Waukesha City Common Council on June 16 approved a motion, 13–1, to reallocate $35,000 in savings from a lower‑cost fire safety trailer project to purchase a replacement vehicle for the fire department’s Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) case manager.
Chief Goplin (introduced earlier by Alderperson Piper) told the council the trailer project came in under budget, producing savings that could be used to replace an older 2015 vehicle with about 61,000 miles. Staff proposed buying a Ford Escape for roughly $35,000 to ensure the MIH case manager — a clinician who travels daily across the city and sometimes into Waukesha and Milwaukee counties to meet clients and partner agencies — has a reliable vehicle.
Alderperson Piper, who brought the item forward from the Finance Committee, said the role requires dependable transportation and that reallocating savings rather than tapping new funds was fiscally responsible. Council members asked whether the vehicle would include emergency equipment; staff and the chief confirmed it would not be outfitted with lights or sirens, though it will carry department emblems and be used for client transport and interagency work. The chief said the MIH position has received more than 125 referrals and currently has about 40 active referrals requiring daily travel.
A motion to approve the reallocation passed on the council floor with a 13–1 vote. The council recorded the outcome as approval of the funding reallocation; individual roll‑call votes were not all read into the record beyond the tally. The replacement vehicle purchase was described as procurement from dealership inventory (buy off the lot) and normal fleet emblems will be applied.
What happens next: staff will proceed with the vehicle purchase and Fleet will handle emblems and standard setup; committee follow‑up expected regarding final procurement documentation.
