Fredonia gets ambulance back in service but still wants relief

The Fredonia Fire Department has its ambulance back in service, but officials are still looking at invoking the state Lemon Law to replace or be reimbursed for the fickle vehicle.

Fire Chief Brian Weyker last week said the ambulance is on the road again after a faulty wire harness and fuse box were found to be the culprits for the vehicle being in a repair shop since June.

In that time, the department has had to borrow ambulances from other departments or use a loaner from a company in Illinois.

That has meant increased expenses and lost revenue for the department, which Weyker said he hopes will be reimbursed, in addition to having the vehicle replaced.

Weyker said he is already in talks with Ford Motor Co. officials.

The Lemon Law protects consumers who buy defective vehicles and allows for them to have a vehicle replaced or to have the purchase price refunded.

The 2018 Ford ambulance, which is still under warranty, was purchased for $121,381 after its predecessor was wrecked in a crash in January 2018 at the intersection of Highway 57 and Highway H. 

All of the purchase price except for the village’s $1,000 deductible was covered by insurance.

The vehicle was out of commission since June due to mechanical failures and the inability of Ford mechanics, both locally and in Detroit, to solve the problem.

Separately, Weyker said the department will take possession of a new fire engine in early December.

The new engine costs $650,000 and replaces a 28-year-old model that likely will be auctioned for about $25,000, he said.

In another matter, the fire department will begin accepting credit cards for ambulance service, Weyker told village trustees last week.

A 2% surcharge will be added for credit-card payments.

Taking credits cards will help reduce instances of nonpayment and cause fewer billings to go to collections, Weyker said.