SYRACUSE — During a special meeting Monday evening, Sept. 21, the Turkey Creek fire board voted to recommend to the Syracuse Town Council Fire Chief Mickey Scott’s request for a new ambulance.

The potential purchase is under severe time pressure, however, in that the chassis for the new vehicle must be ordered by Tuesday, Sept. 29, because General Motors has announced it will soon stop making the product.

Recognizing the unlikelihood the town council will convene and vote before the purchase deadline, board member Steve Snyder included in his motion a proviso to revisit the alternatives if the original recommendation is not approved.

Scott discussed the two bids received for the ambulance. Fire Service Inc. and Penn Care were the only bidders for the project.

Scott and the board dispensed with consideration of the Fire Service bid, given its greater cost and inferior warranties on the paint, materials, graphics and electrical system.

Penn Care proposed an alternate chassis for the vehicle. The fire department prefers the Type III design, whose shorter “nose” facilitates maneuverability and allows the vehicle to access tighter spots during rescue calls.

The longer Type I model costs approximately $17,000 more, and is less suitable for the department’s needs.

Scott requested a diesel engine for several reasons. He said diesel engines are less prone to overheat during protracted idling at emergency scenes and the department has 24/7 access to diesel fuel at its fire station in downtown Syracuse.

Scott also cited a six-month study showing diesel engines operate with lower long-term maintenance costs compared to gasoline engines under the same conditions.

The anticipated procedure is to purchase the chassis from McCormick Motors in Nappanee, who will ship it to Braun Ambulance in Van Wert, Ohio, for installation of the ambulance unit. The vehicle would be ready for pickup in, at most, 240 days.

The total bid for the Type III vehicle, including a state-of-the-art ambulance cot, is $217,107. The chassis would cost an additional $39,900 after a fleet discount.

The new vehicle will replace the department’s 2002 ambulance. The purchase was scheduled for this year pursuant to a multi-year vehicle replacement plan.

The current vehicle, the oldest of the department’s triad of ambulances, is experiencing significant rust, distress in the supporting framework and considerable engine and transmission wear and tear.

The odometer reads 133,000 miles, but the engine has run for 100,000 hours (ambulances on scene must be kept idling to operate refrigeration and other vital electrical systems during a call out), which translates to wear and tear equivalent to 600,000 miles of travel.

The board also directed Scott henceforth to attend all town council meetings to keep the council apprised of department business.