Mount Pleasant Approves Ambulance Purchase, Sturtevant Talks Tonight

Mount Pleasant trustees Tuesday afternoon unanimously approved the purchase of a new or demo ambulance.

The vote also adopted South Shore Fire Chief Bob Stedman's plan to remount two 2005 rigs right after the beginning of the year; target the last 2005 for remount and replace a 2001 with new in 2015 and replace the final 2001 unit in 2016, also with a new squad.

Four of the seven board members were present for the 1 p.m. special board meeting. Trustees Gary Feest, Jerry Garski and Don Schulz were excused. Feest was at work and said 1 p.m. isn't exactly ideal for a vote this important.

"The public can't come and some trustees are at work like I am right now," he said. "But, if we can sustainably afford the chief's plan then it's incumbent on trustees to work with the administrator and the finance department to make it happen. If we can't implement the plan in a sustainable manner, then we may have to postpone parts of it."

Outside Mount Pleasant Village Hall were two units from Foster Coach; a white remount model with a 2004 box on an F450 chassis and a red-and-white demo that could become part of the SSFD fleet if members of the apparatus committee feel it can fit their needs. 

"Almost everyone who sees this remount thinks it's the new one," said Foster Coach driver Don Lester.

He's been with the company for 23 years and said he won't answer specifics, but he can explain how the remount is done.

"This is a brand new chassis," Lester said, patting the open cab of the ambulance.

He pointed to where the cab seamlessly met the box.

"But this is a 2004 box and this is where they attach it, but most people can't tell," he explained.

After the board meeting, Foster Coach representatives took both vehicles to Station 9 in Sturtevant so firefighters and village board members could look them over. Battalion Chief Jon Keiser said if the demo works, it could be in use by August. If a new build is required, SSFD can expect to take delivery closer to the end of the year.

Stedman reiterated for the board what he told the Fire/EMS Oversight Committee last week; that he knows $180,000 was approved for the purchase and his team is working on modifying specs to bring Foster Coach's $191,000 price down.

But Trustee Sonny Havn was skeptical about how necessary the price reduction is given how long the squad is expected to be in service.

"We expect this thing to last 16 years as new and a couple remounts ... why wouldn't we spend the extra $11,000 and get it right and how we need it?" he asked.

But Stedman reassured Havn that the department is sensitive to the financials and will do what's necessary to get the unit they need.

Right before the vote was taken, Village President Mark Gleason had a few words to say.

"I am dismayed this took so long, but I don't fault the fire department," he said. "I'm dismayed because a new ambulance was in the 2011 budget and residents did not receive the benefit they were taxed for."

Now, though, Gleason said he's happy to be on the board that is moving this issue forward and that trustees have a clearer picture of capital equipment needs.

"We're doing the right thing by rectifying the situation and buying a new ambulance this year," he added. "The board is starting to get an understanding of the capital we need to spend on a rotating basis ... for equipment we use. We must be thoughtful of what we do."

But, Gleason also made sure to note that while adopting Stedman's plan is a good step, funding may or may not be available every year going forward.

In Sturtevant, trustees will discuss Stedman's plan Tuesday at their continual committee meeting as part of the Public Safety and Health Committee.

Village President Steve Jansen said his village's board will discuss the chief's plan, but believes they'll come to the same conclusion as Mount Pleasant.

"I appreciate what President Gleason said about funding because you do never know," he said. "But I'm also confident that we will continue to prudently budget for expected capital purchases with the fire department." 

Sturtevant's continual committee meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Village Hall 2801 89th Street.

To listen to the full recording from the meeting, click here for Rees Roberts' blog.