Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Kimball County Board of Commissioners recently placed a state-wide ad for a new emergency vehicle. This aging 2003 ambulance was purchased in August of that year. The purchase of a new ambulance has been before the board for since 2011.
Consideration of purchasing a new rescue vehicle for the Kimball County ambulance service has been ongoing for four years, according to director Carla Goranson.
Recently the issue was moved to the front burner when the Kimball County Board of Commissioners placed a state-wide ad, the week of Oct. 29 through Nov. 5, requesting bids on the ambulance sought.
One bid was received for the Commissioner's meeting on Dec. 1, by Firefox Rescue Equipment Service out of York. The bid offered a 2016 Chevy Diesel 4500 with a purchase price of $261,658, which includes delivery of the vehicle to Kimball.
Goranson requested the vehicle offered meet all of the specifications listed and that it be equipped with a Ferno cot.
She explained that the back of the ambulance is level, as is the device that brings it into the ambulance. The Ferno cot will adjust itself, unlike the Striker unit that is currently being used.
"Even on the city streets, the ground is not level." she said. "Even on the Interstate."
To date the board's budget for the vehicle is $50,000, but a grant may be possible.
"We don't have the figure amount sent to PADD for a possible grant," board chairman Larry Engstrom said, "If don't don't get it (the grant), then we'll have to go ahead with a lease."
"The problem with getting a grant is that in some cases, because we are a county entity, we don't qualify. Some of them – because we are an EMS service – we don't qualify," Goranson said. "So the criteria to get a grant is pretty narrow."
"I think that it would be smart to table this until our next meeting on Dec. 15 and let's send this information to PADD, so that PADD knows that this is the dollar amount, and let someone look at this book (proposal offered)," Engstrom said.
Following the meeting, Goranson said, "I am excited to get out from under the stress of all the breakdowns we have been having with the current units. Some are little things, sirens won't work, lights don't work or front end repairs, to major items like the turbo."