EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – The City Council voted 4-1 to buy a new ambulance, replacing an older model at the request of retiring Fire Chief Paul Tribble. The 2021 Ford E450 AEV X-Series, Type III model, will cost $249,367. It will replace unit Med 2, a 2013 Chevy G4500 that has 180,124 miles and 7,613 engine hours. Each ambulance spends four years as one of two “first-out” ambulances, and then two years as the “reserve” ambulance. Due to the number of emergency calls to which the Excelsior Springs Fire Department responds, staff several years ago developed an ambulance replacement schedule, Tribble stated in his request. Tribble requested the funds from the Capital Improvements Authority and received approval. However, Councilman Brent McElwee altered the motion slightly, suggesting the funds come from the Public Safety Tax, if sales tax collected this year provides enough revenue for the purchase. If not, then CIA would fund the purchase. Councilman Brad Eales cast the lone dissenting vote…