ESD4 purchases two ambulances to supplement aging fleet

By Anton Riecher
A $230,000 sealed bid submitted by Medina County Emergency Services District No. 4 to purchase two low-mileage used ambulances has been accepted by the North Texas community of Gunter, board president Steve Smith announced following the ESD board’s Oct. 14 regular meeting.
“We approved in the budget to purchase replacement vehicles,” Smith said. “The mileage is creeping up on the units we have here.”
At a brief special meeting held by a three-member quorum on Oct. 10, the board acted on a recommendation by Castroville-based ESD1 Chief Clint Cooke to submit the bid to Gunter officials. That city is curtailing its ambulance service in favor of a contact with a third-party provider.
The special meeting was called on short notice to meet an Oct. 13 deadline for the bids, Smith said. Board secretary Brenda Butler presided over the meeting in the absence of Smith who was unavailable due to a business obligation.
“Personally, I would have approved the purchase as well,” Smith said.
Buying used ambulances offers a less expensive advantage over new units estimated at $500,000 apiece and taking 18 months to two years to deliver, battalion chief David Powers said.
The purchase brings the ESD4 ambulance fleet to five units. Similar to a used ambulance purchased last year, the latest units consists of Ford F-450 chassis equipped with a custom, all-aluminum modular ambulance body manufactured by Texas-based Frazer-Bilt.
Each ambulance has less than 50,000 miles on the road, Smith said.
The latest purchase will allow ESD4 to standardize the fleet in future through the same ambulance body manufacturer and similar equipment layouts, simplifying maintenance through a matching inventory of parts, he said.
The two oldest vehicles in the ESD4 fleet operate on Ford F350 chassis and have 105,000 miles and 67,000 miles on the odometer, respectively, board treasurer Patrick DuBose said. The units were purchased new by ESD4 in 2024 as part of a scheme since abandoned to transition from third-party contractor Allegiance Mobile Health to providing EMS service directly with its own equipment and personnel.
Both units have had reoccurring maintenance issues linked to…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!