By Daniel Suddeath
The Evening News and the Tribune
FLOYD COUNTY, Ind. — As discussions continue regarding forming a countywide fire district that could include EMS response, the Floyd County Commissioners moved forward this week with securing ambulances for the proposed service.
The commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to sign an agreement that would allow the county to purchase five ambulances from a private company over the following 90 days. The ambulances would cost about $280,000 each, though a final decision to buy them hasn’t been made.
| DOWNLOAD: How to buy ambulances (eBook)
“This is just an agreement that we have an intent to purchase these ambulances,” said Commissioner Jason Sharp, who sponsored the measure.
“We’re holding our place for five of them and if anything happens in this 90-day window as we’re negotiating, if it goes south, then we can walk away from the deal with no penalty.”
One reason for the agreement is concern about obtaining ambulances if the district moves forward. County and public safety officials have mentioned during talks that one of the main issues with starting a countywide district would be obtaining the necessary equipment, especially ambulances.
“You could expect anything from just a handful of ambulances available to having to wait for three years,” Sharp said.
The Indiana vendor the commissioners signed the agreement with has 12 ambulances available over the next year, and county officials said they wanted to ensure they could purchase five of them before they were sold to other buyers.
“We’re covering our bases because we feel like there’s a good chance that it’s going to happen,” Floyd County Commissioners President Al Knable said of the agreement and the formation of the district.
The proposal affects all of Floyd County outside of New Albany, which has its own fire department and contract for EMS. Earlier this year, the Floyd County Fire Territory was formed combining the Georgetown Fire and New Albany Township Fire districts.
The ongoing discussions are between the Highlander Fire Protection District and the county, which is seeking to bring Highlander into the fold.
For EMS coverage, the county is under contract with AmeriPro Health and Highlander Fire through 2026.
“I don’t want to jinx anything because I think negotiations are going really well between the commissioners and the Highlander union, the administration and the conversations with the board members have been positive,” Sharp said, adding that a vote on forming a countywide district wouldn’t occur until next year.
“I think we’re trending in a good direction.”
Using public safety tax funding to foot an emergency vehicle purchase agreement is among the topics on next Tuesday’s joint meeting of the commissioners and the Floyd County Council.
The meeting, slated to begin at 4 p.m. at Pine View Government Center, will also include a public hearing and council vote to amend and establish a county vehicle wheel tax.
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