Hennessey will soon replace its 10-year-old No. 1 ambulance with a 2017 model and also replace a 2014 Ford Explorer police vehicle, dubbed a lemon, with a 2019 Ford SUV.

The new ambulance cost is $81,000 and has a three-year warranty from Emergency Service Supply out of Jefferson City.

It has 5,720 miles on it, compared with 134,000 on the current ambulance, Jimmy Johnson told the town board at their Thursday night meeting at Town Hall.

Johnson, owner of LiFE EMS, the town’s ambulance service provider, said the left quarter panel of the ambulance had been wrecked, and the box was replaced from a trade-in.

Mayor Bert Gritz asked about the maker of the box.

“It’s an Osage, a premiere manufacturer…In 2017 they started going back to gasoline instead of diesel,” Johnson said.

When asked, Johnson estimated that a “brand new ambulance would cost $150,000.”

Board member Richard Simunek said he thought the town would qualify for a NODA grant to buy the ambulance if they could hold off on the purchase.

Johnson said it wouldn’t last that long, and if the town didn’t want it then he’d buy it for Enid.

He told Simunek that he has been able to get grants for Hennessey in the past, and that LiFE EMS pays for the insurance on the vehicles.

“We have other projects that would qualify for NODA grants,” Town Administrator Tiffany Tillman told Simunek. She also said Johnson had gotten the town a $90,000 grant a few years ago.

All three other board members were also present for the special meeting: Vice Mayor Clif Vogt, Wes Hardin and Keith Meek.

New Police Vehicle

It will take four weeks before the police department gets its 2019 Ford Utility Patrol Interceptor, said Ed Cangiano, assistant police chief.

The total purchase price is $42,714.

The vehicle cost from Riverside Ford of Tulsa is $30,618, light bars and other police equipment is another $11,398 from Dana Safety Supply in Greensboro, N.C.

Cangiano explained that the vehicle will be taken to Little Rock to be “outfitted then delivered to us.”

Police Chief Hank Weber said they needed to add $700 for a graphics kit.

Cost to repair the 2014 unit was going to be $10,000 so the board opted for a new unit.

Vogt asked if equipment on the 2014 model could be used on the new unit and was told it couldn’t, but some items might be used on other vehicles.

Other Business

The board approved a $3,000 payment to Abeliz Construction for a Skid-steer quick attach boring unit.

Public Works Director Curtis Turner said the machine was delivered Wednesday.

The board routinely approved a contract with Crawford and Associates for financial services for the 2019-20 year. Tillman said it was the same fee as last year.

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