Committee OKs purchase of replacement Med One ambulance from grant funds; staff seeks blood-on-ambulance grant

The Marquette County Safety Committee approved using available grant funds to purchase a replacement Med One ambulance and reviewed proposals for additional EMS equipment and program grants.

Committee members reviewed a PowerPoint summary of capital accounts, funding restrictions and a fleet-rotation plan. Rob explained that call volume has risen since a 2016 study (from ~1,200 calls in 2016 to close to 2,000 now) and that ambulances move through an eight-year rotation in practice (six years frontline then two years as backup). A motion to spend approximately $57,000 from the grant account to purchase a new Med One passed in committee (the record shows one opposition but the minutes do not capture the objector’s name). The existing vehicle will be moved down the rotation as a substitute vehicle.

Rob also said the county has applied for a Medical College of Wisconsin grant to fund a program to carry blood products on ambulances: a cooler would cost about $14,000 and monthly restocking of blood products would be roughly $400. He said the grant would cover the equipment and supplies for up to three years with no local match required if awarded. Rob noted the county recently completed its annual narcotics audit and the medical director recommended upgrading the primary narcotics safe (estimated ~$23,000); Rob said he may use grant funds or operations surplus to make that upgrade. He also acknowledged a nonprofit donation (~$7,000) to buy training equipment for outlying stations.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about mileage, fleet replacement cadence, and how remaining grant funds would be allocated for future capital needs. The committee approved the med-one purchase and requested continued planning for longer-term fleet and equipment needs.