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Show By GARY R. BLODGETT A new, fully-equipped ambulance can be purchased by Bountiful City for under $20,000-- and less than a similar ambulance cost the city nearly two years ago. IN A REPORT to the city council, Fire Chief Darrell Mcllrath said the ambulance is available for immediate delivery from a Salt Lake City dealer because the ambulance am-bulance was purchased by a central Utah city that later found could not afford it. "The modular ambulance -- almost identical to the city's present ambulance -- will cost $19,560 if we pay cash now, or the city may pay interest of $138 per month and purchase the ambulance in July, after the new fiscal year begins," said Chief Mcllrath. "I'D LIKE to see it purchased now because we have need for two ambulances. 1 have been turning down several non-emergency requests for the ambulance (transports, etc.), because we must have our present ambulance ready for emergency calls." Chief Mcllrath noted that there are several occasions when two ambulances are needed, even with South Davis Fire Department's ambulance on standby. "IN FACT, the need arose just a couple of days ago when we had three emergency calls within 24 minutes --an --an elderly man with a stroke, a man choking and a baby that had difficulty breathing." he said. Police Chief Dean O. Anderson supported the need for a second ambulance. He told the council that "it is very frustrating as it was when those three calls came in to realize we don't have an emergency vehicle available immediately." THE ambulance is housed at the city fire station. 65 West 200 South. "We can dispatch an ambulance immediately upon receiving a call and it can arrive at any destination within the city in less than four minutes." said Chief Mcllrath. "All of the downtown area and most of the residential area can be reached in less than three min-tues." min-tues." HE SUGGESTED that one of the ambulances be housed in the Southeast Substation as soon as it is possible pos-sible to have full time firemen at the subsiaiion which will be completed this spring. "We could use chains on one ambulance during the winter and be more certain of reaching any destination within the city. With two ambulances, we could be at any emergency within two to three minutes after gelling the call." CHIEF Mcllrath said the ambulance responded to a'U calls in 1977 -- averaging nearly two a day - and Ihe number of calls are increasing rapidly. He told the council that ambulance service is self-supporting, yet the cost is only $25 per emergency call within Ihe city - including splints, oxygen or anything else thai might be needed. HE SAID that since July 1976, when the city's first ambulance was put into service, there have been 866 calls from which $15,405 has been collected. This does not include collections and billings during ihe past four months which would be even more than is actually shown on the books." he told the council. ALTHOUGH NO action could be taken by the council because the topic of a new ambulance did not appear on the agenda, there was unanimous sentiment about the new ambulance. Mayor Elmer W. Barlow noted that money is available through the fire deparmenl because the substation cost less than estimated and this money could be applied on the new ambulance. He said the fire department had requested a new ambulance am-bulance to be purchased out of next fiscal year's budget. IN OTHER city council action, the council took under advisement for another week a proposal whereby the city could step in and do storm drainage work in new residential areas where problems occur; increased the golf and rental fees at the city-owned Bountiful iolf Course; set a public hearing for Feb. Hat 7:30 p.m. for request of a $500 fee (or each new residential unit constructed cons-tructed in the city; and discussed use of a retaining wall along the UXh fairway of the city golf course. THE COUNCIL approved the increase of golf fees beginning this spring to $2 for 9 holes and $4 for 18 holes, an increase of 25 cents for Ihe first nine holes and a 50 cent increase over 18 holes. The 10-round pass will be $17.50 instead of $15. and the rental cost of carts will be increased to $4 per nine holes. ELDON JENSEN met with the council to ask that the city consider helping in a storm drainage problem at a proposed apartment building site near 2600 South and 500 West. After discussing the matter, the council authorized City Engineer Jack Balling to work out a formula that could be uniform throughout the city by which developers would pay the city to do the storm drainage work. THE COUNCIL also delayed action on a proposal that a retaining wall 24 to 30 inches high be installed along the west slope of the 10th fairway of the city golf course. It was proposed that a chain link fence be attached atop the retaining wall to complete a chain link fencing project proposed along the entire west side of the golf course. |