Hanover Park village board set to vote on purchase of $480,000 ambulance

The Hanover Park village board is expected to vote Thursday on the $480,000 purchase of a 2027 Horton ambulance.

The department currently has two active ambulances, and keeps the others as reserve ambulances. They are used to replace front line units when they are out for service or for emergencies.

The new ambulance would replace a 2018 model that will be used as a reserve vehicle.

According to village documents, the public works staff is requesting the board purchase the vehicle from Foster Coach Sales, Inc. for $480,046.

Fire Chief Eric Fors said all village-owned vehicles are on a replacement schedule, including ambulances.

TJ Moore, the Director of Hanover Park Public Works, explained this is the standard price for a new, top-of-the-line ambulance.

Moore said the ambulance purchase was part of the village’s budget plan. Inflation and other additional costs were taken into consideration as part of the budget process, so the price tag doesn’t catch board members off guard.

Moore stressed the importance of regularly replacing village-owned vehicles, especially ambulances because of the need for reliability.

“We feel it is important to the village to always have ambulances available,” he said.

While the board will vote Thursday, even if approved that night, village officials said it could take up to 36 months for the ambulance to arrive and be put in use.

The board meets at 7 p.m. at village hall, 2121 W. Lake St.