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Council tables ambulance purchase after committee report on vendors and lead times
Summary
Fire department staff reported vendor quotes and recommended a Legacy Emergency Vehicles ambulance for local maintenance advantages; procurement timelines of about 18 months and the need for further review led council to table the purchase until the next meeting.
The Windsor Heights City Council on Jan. 23 heard a presentation from the fire‑department committee on replacing an ambulance and voted to table a purchase decision until the next council meeting.
The fire chief summarized work by a five‑person committee that solicited quotes from three vendors and considered maintenance capacity, layout and loaner‑vehicle availability. The committee’s recommendation favored a Legacy Emergency Vehicles unit; staff said that option was about $6,500 higher than the lowest bid but provided local maintenance support through a nearby service provider and loaner ambulances if the city unit required repairs.
The chief told council procurement lead times vary by vendor and can be lengthy: one vendor had a three‑year lead time, others about 18 months. “It’s not something we have the luxury of waiting too long on making a decision at this point,” the chief said, while also noting a short delay would allow further review and vendor outreach. Councilmember Michael Libby moved to table the decision to the next meeting; the motion passed unanimously on roll call.
Staff said they plan to return with a more detailed specification and a recommendation at the next meeting and will attempt to secure quotes that remain valid past current quote‑expiration windows.
