Laurel staff review budget amendment to buy ambulance and replace extrication gear; CHS pledges $30,000 over three years

City staff presented a budget amendment at a Dec. 2, 2025 council workshop proposing changes to the FY2025–26 appropriations so the city can purchase an unanticipated ambulance and replace life-safety extrication equipment for the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department.

The amendment documents in the meeting packet (Exhibit A) show an increase to the Capital Projects ambulance account of $250,676 and an overall $280,676 increase in appropriations transferred from the General Fund to Fund 4000 to cover the ambulance and extrication gear. Fire Chief JW Hopper told council that one set of extrication equipment recently failed; the replacement set includes a lifetime warranty and will require routine servicing every five to six years, with the city paying for routine service. Staff said the extrication gear purchase will be reimbursed to the General Fund by a CHS corporate grant spread over three years (first payment received November 2025).

A letter from CHS Energy Division included with the packet confirms a $30,000 commitment to the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department, paid as three $10,000 installments. The budget-exhibit language lists specific amended appropriations by fund and describes the interfund transfer to Fund 4000 for the ambulance and gear. The budget amendment was presented for council review at the workshop; no formal motion or vote was recorded in the workshop minutes.