La Conner Town Council approves purchase of ambulance

LA CONNER - The La Conner Town Council approved Tuesday the purchase of a used ambulance from Anacortes to replace a broken ambulance that cannot be fixed.

The La Conner Fire Department's current ambulance has problems with its braking system that cannot be fixed because there are no parts available.

"We're currently without an ambulance," La Conner Fire Chief Aaron Reinstra said Tuesday.

The department has been using its fire engine to respond to calls.

It's not ideal, said Reinstra, due to the larger size of the engine, and the wear and tear of repeatedly starting and stopping the truck.

Anacortes is surplussing an ambulance, and offered to sell it at a discount to La Conner for $13,000.

"(It's) bad luck to fortunate luck," said Reinstra.

The resolution approved Tuesday authorizes the purchase by waiving competitive bidding requirements.

The council also approved Tuesday a vendors' market. The market will occur about twice a month through the spring and summer.

The council also discussed its After Action Report regarding the December flooding.

Some lessons learned include activating the town's public information officer sooner, improving the internet connection to Skagit County Department of Emergency Management meetings, and making a plan for possible evacuees coming to La Conner.

The council held a public hearing Tuesday on its rewrites to the historic preservation district code. There were no public comments.

The changes include defining the "historic period" as from 1875 to 1915, and adding a list of preapproved colors for homes in the district.

The new code would allow district residents to paint their homes one of those colors without going through a full historic design review, which was previously required for repainting structures.

The code also changes wording that says residents should "avoid" vertical or wide horizontal siding to saying that they "shall not be used."

The council also approved:

• An agreement closing out the completion of the 931 Maple Ave. development, with the condition that payment is fulfilled.

• An agreement with the La Conner School District to use the Garden Club and Maple Hall as designated off-site evacuation locations.

• An agreement with the state Department of Transportation to participate in its Virtual Coordination Center for coordinated responses during emergencies.

• A contract for fire hose and ladder testing.

• A contract to remove and install a new pump at the Caledonia pump station.

• A bid recommendation for Starlink's communication services and equipment.

The La Conner Town Council typically meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The meetings are at 6 p.m. at Maple Hall and are recorded.

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