Jodi Summit
TOWER – Members of the Tower Ambulance Commission this week got their first look at the city’s newest ambulance, which was just delivered for $258,000. The new vehicle joins what is now the second-newest vehicle in the fleet, which already has over 90,000 miles on it. The city’s third vehicle, which has over 132,000 miles on it, will either be sold or donated. Any money from a sale would go toward the ambulance replacement fund, which was mostly depleted by the last purchase.
“This is a really beautiful facility,” said Commissioner Jeff Damm.
The commission also approved a new three-year emergency vehicle donation agreement, with representatives from Tower, Breitung, Kugler, Vermilion Lake, Greenwood and Eagles Nest all voting yes. The agreement, which runs through 2026, calls for an annual donation of $25 per capita, based on 2020 census figures. In addition, Fortune Bay and Bois Forte will make a voluntary donation to the fund each year, totaling $10,000.
“The agreement will generate $227,775 over the next three years,” said emergency services director Dena Suihknonen, which should be enough to pay for the next necessary ambulance upgrade. Both vehicles are now configured to receive a rebuilt box on the existing chassis, which should save the service about $100,000 compared to buying a completely new unit. Each vehicle can be rebuilt twice, Suihkonen said. Because of the lead time needed to order a rebuild, the commission will likely consider ordering a rebuilt box in the near future.
The next meeting of the Ambulance Commission will take place on Monday, October 7th.
