Winter Garden approves ambulance purchase

WINTER GARDEN — Winter Garden city leaders unanimously approved the purchase of a new ambulance at the March 22 Winter Garden City Commission meeting.

The funds for a new Wheeled Coach Ford, Custom Type I Ambulance have already been budgeted, and the cost will be about $228,915 and is not to exceed $235,000. The ambulance would be purchased from REV Technical Center, said Winter Garden Fire Chief Matt McGrew.

“This vehicle will be an essential part to the city’s strategy to address some of the ongoing EMS challenges that we’re experiencing,” McGrew said. “It will take approximately four months to build this vehicle. … We’ll have a fleet of five (ambulances) when this is (built).”

In addition to approving the purchase of the new ambulance, commissioners approved the first reading of an ordinance that carries over appropriated funds to the current fiscal year budget. If approved for the second reading, Ordinance 18-04 would amend the current fiscal year’s budget to carry forward appropriations from the city’s budget from the previous year, explained Winter Garden Finance Director Laura Zielonka.

“(The appropriations) are just being carried forward,” Zielonka said. “It’s (for) pre-budgeted projects. They’ve been in the budget for last fiscal year, we just didn’t complete them.”

Toward the end of the meeting, commissioners dispensed as the city commission and convened as the Community Redevelopment Agency to address recommendations from the Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board to approve a Facade Matching Grant valued up to $10,000 for 24 E. Joiner St.

“The facade grant is to install two new storefronts — traditional storefronts — and to brick the facade of the building,” Winter Garden Economic Development Director Tanja Gerhartz said. “We’re going to pay up to $10,000. It’s going to cost quite a bit more than that.”

Gerhartz said the applicant, Kelso Investments LLC., would be covering the remaining project costs.