Woolwich awards ambulance bid

Memorial Day service announced
Tue, 05/21/2019 - 2:15pm

The Woolwich Select Board unanimously accepted a $149,615 ambulance bid Monday night from Autotronics. The Bangor-based company specializes in selling emergency vehicles and was the lowest of six bidders.

The company will provide the town with a 2019 Ford E-45 V10 ambulance. It will have a remounted modular unit. Autotronics was the only bid below the $150,000 authorized at the recent annual town meeting.

The company agreed to provide a loaner ambulance at no cost until the new vehicle is delivered. Woolwich EMS will begin providing the town with 24/7 ambulance coverage July 1.

The new ambulance is red, gasoline-driven and comes with a Stryker cot and power load system and LED driving light and fog lights. The price included painting the hood and chassis.

EMS Director Brian Carlton told the board he had no reservations about buying an ambulance with a remounted modular unit.

“It’s been completely refurbished. You won’t be able to tell it’s not brand new,” he said.

Bid packages were received from one other Maine vendor and four out-of-state ones.

The board called the meeting to order with Chairman David King Sr. asking for a moment of silence in memory of longtime residents Jeanette Cakouros and Herbert Lilly. Both were founding members of the Woolwich Historical Society. For many years, Lilly was involved with the annual alewives harvest at Nequasset Brook.

Carlton said Woolwich ambulance personnel responded to eight of nine calls over the last two weeks, making three transports.

Debbie Locke noted this year’s Memorial Day observance will be hosted by the Woolwich-Wiscasset Baptist Church on Route 1. The service is at 7 p.m. Monday, May 27. All are welcome.

Town Administrator Kim Dalton will meet with state highway officials Thursday morning, May 22 to discuss the replacement of a Route 1 culvert near the dike near George Wright Road.