Tippecanoe County Council approves ambulance funds LAFAYETTE, IN (wbaa) - The Tippecanoe County Council has approved the purchase of five new ambulances.

The council initially declined the proposal at its meeting a few weeks ago, but agreed to reconsider the issue during the 2009 budget hearings.

Lisa Decker is a spokesperson for St. Elizabeth Regional Health. She says the ambulance committee was able to convince the council during Tuesday's meeting.

The Tippecanoe Emergency Ambulance Service had asked the county for $610,000 to replace older vehicles.

Ambulance calls have been increasing by 10 percent every year for the last eight years, according to service. And most of the current fleet will soon be out of commission because of mileage limitations.

Councilor Andy Gutwein was the only member who voted down the proposal. He says he is not sure the county should be in the ambulance business. © Copyright 2009, wbaa