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VCAD board approves purchasing used ambulances
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The Vernon County Ambulance District board of directors unanimously approved the purchase of two used ambulances from American Response Vehicles of Columbia, Mo. during a special meeting Wednesday evening.
The first is a 2013 Chevrolet/ARV with 112,000 plus miles on it. The other is a 2014 Chevrolet/ARV with 104,000 on it.
Dekalb-Clinton Ambulance District bought both ambulances new from American Response Vehicles. They are being traded in to ARV towards Dekalb-Clinton's purchase of two new ambulances.
The purchase is being financed by a four year, $149,805.10 loan through Heritage State Bank at 3.95 percent interest. The loan will include $23,305.10 to pay the balance due on Medic 5, as well as both ambulances at $60,000 and $76,500 respectively.
The loan includes $4,500 to remove Dekalb-Clinton's decals and apply decals matching VCAD's Medic 5.
VCAD will receive a $5,000 discount for purchasing the ambulances as a pair, and $5,000 trade in for VCAD's current Medic 1.
Referring to the low dollar value of Medic 1 as a trade in, Humphrey said, "Unfortunately they are not very valuable at the end of their life cycle. For most people, they are not that easy to utilize."
Board member Chris Mason said the purpose of getting both ambulances was to trade in Medic 1 and to lessen the wear on Medic 5.
Medic 1, a 2005 Freightliner, has more than 200,000 miles on it and contributed to VCAD's $30,000 repair costs in 2015. It is currently VCAD's first out truck to emergency calls in Nevada and Vernon County.
VCAD director Leland Splitter said once this loan is paid off and the two ambulances have reached their useful life, he would not be afraid of remounting the ambulance's patient compartment on a new chassis thereby saving money.
He also recommended that once this loan is paid off, VCAD should consider returning to a rotation of purchasing a new truck every two years.