Support the Timberjay by making a donation.

Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Council greenlights new ambulance purchase

No final price tag available; will replace existing ambulance with 110,000 miles on it

Jodi Summit
Posted 11/20/18

TOWER— The city council here, on Nov. 13, gave the green light to the purchase of a new ambulance, with a price tag expected to approach $250,000. The new ambulance is expected to replace the …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Council greenlights new ambulance purchase

No final price tag available; will replace existing ambulance with 110,000 miles on it

Posted

TOWER— The city council here, on Nov. 13, gave the green light to the purchase of a new ambulance, with a price tag expected to approach $250,000. The new ambulance is expected to replace the second-oldest of the department’s three rigs, a 2011 diesel vehicle with approximately 110,000 miles on it.

Ambulance Director Steve Altenburg presented the council with a brief purchase request without a final price tag or final specifications, which he said were still being developed. Altenburg told the council he had called around to three different vendors, Lifeline, Braun Northwest, and McCoy Miller, and found the prices all in the same range, at just under $250,000. He said that includes the price of the GMC G4500 Type III, gasoline-fueled ambulance and a Stryker powerload and cot.

“I’m looking at going with the Lifeline one,” he said, without explaining his rationale.

Altenburg said the department is unlikely to get much resale value from the existing ambulance due to a glut of used ambulances. He estimated that the sale could generate as little as $10,000.

Altenburg said the new ambulance box was designed to be remounted on a new chassis at a later point, which he said would save the department money in the long run.

The council did not ask about the source of funding for the purchase, although Altenburg previously told the council that there was insufficient funding in the ambulance replacement fund, which would likely require drawing from the ambulance’s reserve funds.

In related business, the council approved the purchase of other ambulance-related equipment totaling $54,924.

The council also heard from city engineer Matt Bolf, who reported that the final payment on the Hoodoo Point Campground sewer project is being withheld due to some deficiencies.

He also reported that the cost for infrastructure for the first phase of the harbor town home project, which includes the first six town homes, is estimated at $276,000. He noted that St. Louis County has completed its comments on the harbor plat and that he expected to have responses to comments back to the county by Nov. 16. Sales of town homes at the harbor cannot begin until the plat is finalized.

Bolf also offered a quick update on progress on the new TEDA manufacturing building at the city’s industrial park. He said the building framework is now mostly in place, with footings and sidewalks in place. In other development news, Bolf noted that he had spoken to Luke Kujawa of Your Boat Club to alert him that $20,000 was still left over for demolition work at the Standing Bear Marina. He said Kujawa told him he would get a plan for using the money to Bolf soon.

In other business, the council:

Certified election results from the Nov. 6 general election. None of the councilors inquired about the city’s apparent failure to follow through with the St. Louis County Auditor regarding a special review of the city’s election process. At a Sept. 26 city council meeting, City Clerk-Treasurer Linda Keith told the council that she had drafted a letter to county elections supervisor Phil Chapman requesting the special review and said it was ready for the mayor’s signature. But Chapman confirmed last week that he never received the letter.

 In his ambulance report, Steve Altenburg noted that runs were down in October, with 34 calls, including nine transfers.

 TEDA member Joan Broten informed the council that TEDA is working on the Blandin Broadband initiative and is holding a public meeting to get input from residents. That meeting is set for Nov. 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the Tower Civic Center.

 Approved a low bid of $15,020 from GMen for demolition of two residential structures— located at 711 Main St., and 408 S Second St. The bid assumes no finding of asbestos at either property.

 Approved two pay estimates for Lenci Enterprises for ongoing work on the TEDA manufacturing building.

 Accepted the resignation of Nick Levens from the ambulance service.

 Accepted an application from Jolene Herberg to serve on the planning and zoning commission.