LaPorte County Council approves $5.13 million EMS budget increase and a new utility vehicle

The LaPorte County Council on Jan. 26 approved a $5,126,961 additional appropriation from the general fund to establish the county’s EMS budget and later authorized a separate $75,000 purchase of a utility vehicle to replace a 2015 Tahoe.

The appropriation was moved by Councilmember Brett Kessler and carried in a roll‑call vote with six ayes and one nay. During discussion, several council members reiterated the need to finalize the EMS funding after prior budget hearings and to ensure proper public notice under the county’s new web process. Council recorded Kessler, Justin Keel, Mike Mollenhower, and other members voting in favor; one member voted no on the appropriation.

Eric Festermaker, director of EMS, described the procurement process for the utility vehicle, saying the department solicited four bids and selected a local vendor (Grieger’s of Valparaiso). Festermaker said the Ram 2500 selected includes running boards, a hard cover storage system, a snowplow and lighting; he described outfitting costs (lighting, mobile radio and other equipment) that raised the likely spend toward $71,000 of the $75,000 authorization. Festermaker said the purchase will improve the county’s ability to pull trailers in storms and to support county maintenance tasks.

In the vehicle vote, council members cast a roll‑call vote and approved the request unanimously, 7–0. Council clarified the truck replaces an existing 2015 Tahoe and that some radio equipment would be repurposed from the Tahoe into the new vehicle.

Officials said outfitting savings were achieved in part because a local vendor offered a more favorable trade allowance than a regional supplier, and county staff indicated they would do some of the outfitting work in‑house because the usual outfitter had a six‑month backlog.

Next steps: staff may return with a formal salary‑ordinance amendment if needed for stipend or wage changes related to the purchase, and the EMS director will proceed with vendor paperwork and in‑house outfitting plans.