‘We can’t afford not to do this’: Council votes to purchase ambulance with opioid settlement funds

Flint, MI— Flint City Council voted unanimously on Monday, March 25, 2024, to appropriate $225,000 of the city’s opioid settlement funds to purchase an ambulance vehicle and supplies for the Flint Fire Department. 

“I feel personally, as the fire chief of the City of Flint, we can’t afford not to do this,” said Flint Fire Chief Theron Wiggins. “When it comes to someone’s life, we can’t afford not to have a way to get them medical attention.”

Wiggins told council on March 25 that establishing an in-house ambulance service was crucial for the safety of Flint residents. 

“We’re in critical status in the City of Flint, where there is often no ambulance anywhere to help our citizens,” Wiggins said. “A lot of them are dying, and I just think we have to do something for the citizens of Flint.”

“It’s worse than you think it is. Many times, there are no ambulances, and they will not respond. So we have no choice but to provide the services for our citizens.”

Councilwoman Judy Priestley said that while she would vote to support the resolution to purchase the vehicle, she was concerned about the cost. 

“I’m concerned about your stacking levels, I’m concerned about relying on mutual aid for fires especially in the 4^th Ward that has most of the fires in this city,” Priestley said. “But where do I draw the line… what’s more important, life or property? You can’t put a value on that.”

When Councilman Dennis Pfeiffer asked if one vehicle would suffice the city’s needs, Wiggins said it would only begin to address the issue and that the department would seek a second and third vehicle in the future.

According to the resolution proposal, the city will purchase a brand-new Class II ambulance/EMT from the ambulance vendor Kodiak Emergency Vehicles for $192,481. Additional supplies such as decaling, equipment, and medical safety supplies will be necessary. 

The resolution proposal states, “To better serve the City of Flint residents and community, the Flint Fire Department has determined, because of the lack of ambulance transport services, to establish an in-house ambulance service to assist in the transport of City of Flint residents to emergency facilities in a more timely manner.” 

As Flint Beat reported in June 2023, the Genesee County 911 dispatch authority goes into critical status three to four times a week, meaning fewer than five ambulances are available. 

Wiggins said the ambulance would be available 24/7 and would only serve Flint. He hopes the vehicle will operate by the end of July 2024 and will most likely be established in Station #6.