NEW ULM – Thanks to the generosity of one New Ulm resident, the New Ulm Fire Department will get a brand-new utility terrain vehicle.

New Ulm City Council approved a $43,707 donation from Bev Luneburg to the fire department for a 2025 Polaris Ranger Crew XP UTV at their meeting Tuesday.

Fire Chief Paul Macho said he received a call from Luneburg because she wanted to donate to the fire department. She asked if they had any special projects. After Macho said they didn’t, the pair talked back and forth about what they could do.

“She said, ‘Well, why don’t you make a wish list?'” He said. “I made one and got all the numbers together. I gave it to her and then she looked at it for a while. We met a couple more times because she wanted an explanation of what all this stuff was and what we’re using it for. She decided this was most beneficial to the fire department.”

Macho said the UTV will be on tracks and can go places a four-wheel drive pickup truck couldn’t. In the winter, he said it will be used during snowstorms because it rides well on top of the snow. During the spring through fall seasons, it will be used to combat grass and wildland fires in ways other vehicles couldn’t fight.

“[Before the UTV] it would have been foot power,” Macho said. “You’re dragging not only yourself but tools and water bags back and forth. It’s going to be extremely beneficial to the fire department. I know several departments around here have them because they need them for wildland firefighting as well.”

During the 80s, Luneburg said she ran a business that baled cardboard for craft. She said they had several fires, and the fire department was always there to put them out.

“I was looking for something to pay back to the people,” Luneburg said. “I’m proud of New Ulm and I wanted to do something to pay back what the community gave to me.”

Without this donation, Macho said acquiring a UTV would have been a 20-year project.

“We have a donation fund,” he said. “We’ve been sticking money into it for I don’t know how many years and it still wasn’t enough to buy it. We’ve got some money in there to help with some of the accessories that we’re going to need.”

Councilor Les Schultz thanked Luneburg for the donation and the benefit it will bring.

“That’s a wonderful generous gift for our city,” he said. “Thank you so much for helping to improve our services at the fire department and making New Ulm a little bit safer.”

Councilor Dave Christian made the motion to approve the donation, and Schultz seconded. Macho said they would receive the UTV within the month.