Ambulance director Deb Ristau asked the city council to consider the purchase of a new Ram AEV (American Emergency Vehicles) ambulance at the council’s August 19 meeting. Mayor Kurt Reicks was absent.
Ristau said the lead time is three years, so delivery of the new ambulance is expected in 2027. The state bid price for the ambulance is $342,271. With the trade of the 2014 Ford AEV which is located at the Preston Station, the final purchase price will be $297,271. The 2014 Ford has about $94,000 miles on it at this point but is expected to have about 130,000 miles on it by 2027.
Another Ram AEV ambulance was ordered a year ago to replace a 2013 Ford Horton ambulance. That order costing $300,185 is to be delivered in 2026. The ambulance service which serves both Preston and Lanesboro areas has three ambulances. The ambulance fund which is operated as an enterprise fund establishes a separate, self-supporting mechanism to pay for the new ambulances.
2025 Budget
City Administrator Ryan Throckmorton reviewed the first draft of the 2025 budget. In this early draft, the levy would increase $73,084 over 2024, or 6.08%. One percent of levy increase equals approximately $12,000. During this first discussion of the budget an estimated 15% increase in health insurance is figured in. The actual health insurance increase will not be known until the end of August. A 3.5% increase in salaries for cost of living is included in the budget.
In 2025 it is estimated that the Small Cities Assistance from the state will add $34,417 in revenue, which is to be used for construction and maintenance of roads. Local Government Aid for 2025 will be $539,303, or an increase of $187 over 2024.
Councilman Steve Hall maintained he didn’t see how we can get below an increase of 6.08% and still do the business of the city, especially considering the large expenses the city faces in the future (wastewater treatment plant and electrical upgrades). No action was taken this day.
The preliminary levy is required to be adopted by the end of September.
Other Business in Brief
- A conditional use permit for boarding and lodging, Air B & B rental, at 308 North St. NW was approved as recommended by the Planning Commission. There was one comment from a neighbor during the public hearing who was concerned about parties; there will not be parties. Bradley Johns and Somboon Kang requested the CUP, proposing to use their single-family home for boarding and lodging. They are in the R-2 District (One- and Two-Family Residential District). Conditions will apply including one on-site parking space per bedroom, boarding not to exceed six persons, conditions spelled out in Ordinance 209, Lodging Tax, and limitations in signage. Hall supported the CUP as recommended but expressed his concerns about the homeowner parking on the street. Throckmorton said the homeowner will have to submit to current parking ordinances. Hall suggested it be monitored quite closely.
- A city contribution in the amount of $1,485.90 to Preston Legion/VFW for the purchase of American Flags for 2025 was approved. The city and VFW share the cost to purchase new flags every other year.
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