July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
County slows on purchase of ambulance (10/17/06)
Jay County Commissioners
By By MARY ANN LEWIS-
A decision to purchase a new ambulance chassis for the Jay Emergency Medical Service was tabled by Jay County Commissioners Monday afternoon after they learned that the vehicle targeted for trade or sale was a 2002 model with only 56,692 miles registered on the odometer.
Commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Gary Theurer, and Faron Parr discussed at length Monday afternoon a request from JEMS director Teresa Foster-Geesaman to replace the ambulance chassis, which she explained is targeted in a rotation process to keep the ambulances up to date.
Geesaman told commissioners she would purchase the chassis and then purchase a new box for the chassis. A quote for that box was estimated at an additional $52,925.
Earlier Monday, Foster-Geesaman had talked to commissioners about the possible purchase and then in the afternoon session, provided quotes from two chassis makers. A quote from Lifestream Rescue Inc., Van Wert, Ohio, was the lowest at $61,475, and another from Osage Industries, Inc., Linn, Mo., came in at $65,165. A quote from Braun, also of Van Wert, Ohio, was also sought but company officials there said they no longer do remount work, which would be needed to bring the two pieces together.
Geesaman is asking to replace the ambulance to make it uniform with the other three that JEMS has in service. The box on the ambulance to be replaced is made of plywood, Geesaman had said, and she wants the aluminum and steel framed box like that on the other three.
She told commissioners she had asked Jay County Hospital officials if they would consider taking the old vehicle to use to transfer patients in an a non-emergency situation, but they had declined.
In an effort to save money on staffing, JEMS only makes those transfers before 6 p.m.
In an afternoon conversation Miller learned again from hospital CEO Joe Johnston, that the hospital does not "want to go into the transfer business."
Miller explained the transfer process would provide additional services to Jay County residents. However, Johnston maintained the hospital's position.
JEMS is provided $90,000 annually for the replacement of vehicles, Miller explained, adding that just because the money is there, doesn't mean it has to be used.
"Maybe the (county) council shouldn't put the money in there (every year) for that," he said.
He added that commissioners had not previously questioned the mileage on vehicles that were traded.
"We didn't ask the right questions," Theurer said about the history of the ambulances and the decision to the table the request.
Also Monday afternoon, commissioners learned that the first meeting of the newly formed redevelopment commission is set for Monday, Oct. 23, at 2 p.m. Members of the commission are Parr, Dan Watson, Carl Walker, Brad Burkett, and Todd Wickey.
Sue Beesley, an attorney with Bingham-McHale LLP, Indianapolis, will be present to help guide the new commission through the organizational process.
At that meeting, officers are expected to be elected, and Beesley will advise members of the next steps to be taken.[[In-content Ad]]
Commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Gary Theurer, and Faron Parr discussed at length Monday afternoon a request from JEMS director Teresa Foster-Geesaman to replace the ambulance chassis, which she explained is targeted in a rotation process to keep the ambulances up to date.
Geesaman told commissioners she would purchase the chassis and then purchase a new box for the chassis. A quote for that box was estimated at an additional $52,925.
Earlier Monday, Foster-Geesaman had talked to commissioners about the possible purchase and then in the afternoon session, provided quotes from two chassis makers. A quote from Lifestream Rescue Inc., Van Wert, Ohio, was the lowest at $61,475, and another from Osage Industries, Inc., Linn, Mo., came in at $65,165. A quote from Braun, also of Van Wert, Ohio, was also sought but company officials there said they no longer do remount work, which would be needed to bring the two pieces together.
Geesaman is asking to replace the ambulance to make it uniform with the other three that JEMS has in service. The box on the ambulance to be replaced is made of plywood, Geesaman had said, and she wants the aluminum and steel framed box like that on the other three.
She told commissioners she had asked Jay County Hospital officials if they would consider taking the old vehicle to use to transfer patients in an a non-emergency situation, but they had declined.
In an effort to save money on staffing, JEMS only makes those transfers before 6 p.m.
In an afternoon conversation Miller learned again from hospital CEO Joe Johnston, that the hospital does not "want to go into the transfer business."
Miller explained the transfer process would provide additional services to Jay County residents. However, Johnston maintained the hospital's position.
JEMS is provided $90,000 annually for the replacement of vehicles, Miller explained, adding that just because the money is there, doesn't mean it has to be used.
"Maybe the (county) council shouldn't put the money in there (every year) for that," he said.
He added that commissioners had not previously questioned the mileage on vehicles that were traded.
"We didn't ask the right questions," Theurer said about the history of the ambulances and the decision to the table the request.
Also Monday afternoon, commissioners learned that the first meeting of the newly formed redevelopment commission is set for Monday, Oct. 23, at 2 p.m. Members of the commission are Parr, Dan Watson, Carl Walker, Brad Burkett, and Todd Wickey.
Sue Beesley, an attorney with Bingham-McHale LLP, Indianapolis, will be present to help guide the new commission through the organizational process.
At that meeting, officers are expected to be elected, and Beesley will advise members of the next steps to be taken.[[In-content Ad]]
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