Romeoville OKs ambulance purchase

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Updated: March 6, 2012 8:11AM

ROMEOVILLE — Village trustees approved the purchase of a new ambulance for the village’s fire protection district in February.

Trustees waived the formal bid process for the new rig, which will be purchased from Foster Coach Sales of Sterling at a cost of $174,812. The new emergency vehicle is custom built on a Ford F450 chassis, Romeoville Fire Chief Kent Adams said.

Adams said the village would lease the vehicle and would secure financing closer to its delivery date.

The new vehicle, Adams said, will have a more comfortable ride for patients being transported.

“We’ve had a lot of success with this type of vehicle,” said Adams, who said the ambulance was similar to one in use already at Station No. 3.

Trustee Sue Micklevitz said the cost for the vehicle is a lesson to the general public on the need for large village budgets.

“When you see one vehicle costing this kind of money,” said Micklevitz, who noted the cost was not only for the vehicle but the life-saving equipment on board.

In other business, the village approved the purchase of land near Route 53 and Marquette Drive for $50,000.

Assistant Village Manager Dawn Caldwell said that the village plans to install a monument sign at the site that will serve as a welcome at the village entrance.