Board conditionally approves six-week loan of reserve ambulance to Liberty pending counsel review

The Board of Aldermen approved a conditional loan of the city’s reserve ambulance to the Liberty fire department after board members pressed for insurance assurances and a time-limited agreement.

A fire-department representative (speaker 7) told the board Liberty was down two ambulances and asked to use Pleasant Valley’s reserve unit for roughly one month to six weeks. Board members emphasized the need for written assurances that Liberty’s insurer would carry coverage while the vehicle was in Liberty’s possession and suggested consulting the city’s law firm.

“I would like to see... a letter from the City of Liberty that acknowledges they’re going to be the financially responsible party covering it while it’s in their possession,” one member (speaker 4) said, requesting a written confirmation of coverage. Board members discussed setting a time limit and including a clause requiring a new agreement if Liberty sought an extension.

A motion (moved by speaker 4, seconded by speaker 1) directed staff to confer with the city law firm to confirm Liberty’s financial responsibility and to approve a six-week loan pending counsel review. The clerk conducted a roll-call vote and members approved the motion. The board directed staff to require written assurances and, if necessary, a short written agreement specifying the time frame and insurance responsibility before the vehicle leaves city custody.

The transcript records the board’s conditional approval but does not include the final written agreement or the name of Liberty’s insurer; those details were left to be confirmed by counsel and staff before the transfer.