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Benzie County approves $194,642 ambulance purchase; authorizes IT and vehicle communications spending
Summary
Benzie County commissioners approved buying an ambulance for $194,642 from Michigan First Response, authorized $99,000 for mobile data terminals and approved up to $41,000 borrowing for an at-risk sheriff’s server. Chair Vance Bates disclosed a contract relationship with the vendor.
Benzie County commissioners on Jan. 27 approved the purchase of a new ambulance from Michigan First Response for $194,642 and authorized financing through Central State Bank at 2.79% over five years.
Chair Vance Bates disclosed during the meeting that he works as a contract (1099) employee for Michigan First Response. Bates said he checked with the prosecutor about a conflict; the prosecutor advised there was not one. After that disclosure the board approved the purchase on a 6–1 roll-call vote, with Commissioner Tucker casting the lone no vote.
The board also approved spending $99,000 from the 911 Emergency Services Reserve Fund to buy mobile data terminal (MDT) hardware for the sheriff’s department, county public safety vehicles and the emergency command van. Commissioners voted unanimously to move the MDT purchase forward.
Earlier in the meeting Sheriff Schendel warned the board that “the server at the sheriff office could crash at any time,” a risk that prompted the finance committee review. Commissioners approved a motion to borrow up to $41,000 from the Revolving Tax Fund to purchase a new Service Array Network server and directed staff to report back with details on repayment sources.
The ambulance purchase, MDT equipment and server funding were presented to the finance committee before the full-board votes. The actions together address fleet replacement, in-vehicle communications and an immediate county IT risk for public safety services.
The board approved the bills for the period Dec. 31, 2014, through Jan. 27, 2015, totaling $689,751.45. The county treasurer said she will continue outreach on foreclosure, land bank and brownfield issues and a commissioner requested that future bills be distributed earlier for review.
