The Park Ridge Herald-Advocate mentions that a purchase request for new ambulances has been approved in Park Ridge:

Park Ridge will be getting two new ambulances to replace vehicles that have reportedly had their share of mechanical problems.

The City Council last month voted to authorize the fire department to purchase the ambulances at a cost of $440,500. The cost includes the purchase of new cots that Fire Chief Michael Zywanski said will better carry larger patients. It will take about one year before the ambulances are ready and delivered to the city for use, he said.

Sixth Ward Ald. Marc Mazzuca voted against the purchase, saying the city should buy one ambulance at a time. “A staggered purchase makes more sense than buying two of these at the same time,” he said. Mayor David Schmidt also questioned if the city needed to replace the vehicles this budget year.

Both Zywanski and City Manager Shawn Hamilton agreed that replacement is necessary. “There are a lot of times when we have an ambulance down,” Hamilton said, explaining that the city had already deferred replacing one of the vehicles last year. “These are necessary vehicles that are needed.”

Zywanski earlier told the council that the ambulances, which have been in use since 2006, are “showing significant amounts of wear.” Mike McGrath, fleet manager for the Public Works Department, also told elected officials that the engines had required a great deal of maintenance and were even discontinued by the manufacturer on newer ambulance models.

The city owns three ambulances, one of which is used as a reserve vehicle.

Tags: Fire Chief Michael Zywanski, Park Ridge Fire Department, Park Ridge to buy new ambulances