SLEEPY EYE — The Sleepy Eye City Council unanimously approved state bids for a new ambulance and powerlift (ambulance) cot Tuesday.

Action came on a motion by councilor Nate Stevermer, seconded by Christina Andres to purchase a new Ford ambulance to replace a 2010 Ford ambulance and a new ambulance power cot. A powered ambulance cot features a battery-powered hydraulic system that raises and lowers the cot at the touch of a button.

Cost of a new Ford ambulance through the state bid process is $293,302, $103,302 more than a new ambulance purchased in 2017.

Sleepy Eye City Manager Bob Elston said the City of Sleepy Eye’s share of the 2024 Minnesota Legislature’s one-time rural EMS (emergency medical services) funding is about $110,000 and could be used to help buy the ambulance.

“As long as we encumber the (state funding) in 2025, we’re good to go. I suggest we use all the state funding for this,” said Elston.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill into law May 23 allocating $30 million for rural emergency medical services (EMS). The allocation includes $24 million in short-term emergency aid and $6 million for the establishment of an alternative EMS response model pilot program. The “Sprint Medic” pilot program was created to test the efficiency of roving paramedics in rural Minnesota.

Sleepy Eye Ambulance will use its 2017 and 2010 ambulances for now.

“It’s a two-year process to build it. The new ambulance will have a gas engine instead of diesel in the 2017 ambulance because that’s how they’re built now,” said Sleepy Eye Ambulance Coordinator/Emergency Manager Shari Hittesdorf.

“We need a new (ambulance) cot. They cost about $35,000,” Hittesdorf added.

Sleepy Eye Ambulance crew member Gary Lambrecht said 2010 ambulance has more than 100,000 miles on it and the 2017 model has 83,000 miles.

“We’re putting on ambulance miles now faster than we ever did before,” said Lambrecht.

“The ambulances have been busy with more calls, (patient) transfers and doing mutual aid with other nearby ambulance services,” Hittesdorf said.

Elston said last year was the first time he can remember that ambulance fees didn’t cover ambulance costs that continue to go up, while Medicare payments do not.

The city council got a first look at the preliminary 2025 city budget with a proposed $1,900,200 preliminary tax levy, up 9.71% ($168,000) from last year.

Proposed increases include $48,000 for police, $9,000 for the library, $4,000 for the economic development authority (EDA), and $24,000 for the Sleepy Eye Event Center.

Proposed 2025 total city expenses are $4,588,750, up $133,000 from last year.

“That’s just our starting point. We begin budget workshops which are open public meetings at noon Wednesday (July 10),” Elston said.

“It sounds like there’s some work to do, council,” said Mayor Wayne Pelzel.