Glen Ellyn to buy two ambulances

The Glen Ellyn village board Monday agreed to purchase two ambulances - but not without some dissent from trustees.

Peter Ladesic and Timothy Armstrong said there is too much liability associated with owning ambulances.

The decision to spend money isn't a smart one when the board also will be talking about increasing the sales tax in town to balance the budget, Ladesic said.

"I think this is a poor time to be spending cash reserves," he said, adding that the risks outweigh the benefits of the purchase.

He said the village is banking on unrealistic income from providing ambulance services.

However, Deputy Village Manager Curt Barrett and Fire Chief Scott Raffensparger said the increase in the ambulance calls coming into town has necessitated the purchase, and the remaining four trustees agreed.

"Our call volume has grown steadily over the years," Barrett said. He said there were 1,900 ambulance calls a year now, and the one-and-a-half ambulances that have been provided by a contract with a paramedic service company aren't enough.

Barrett said the lowest cost options include purchasing and maintaining ambulances on their own.

The vote on Monday included the purchase of two 2008 Ford models for no more than $231,488.

"We currently run similar units," Raffensparger said.

The board also agreed to buy cots to upgrade the ones in the vehicles; those cost $21,660.

The village also will purchase two defibrillators to outfit the ambulances at a cost of $51,175.