Starke County EMS is still a truck short due to extensive mechanical problems with the 2009 Ford ambulance based at Grovertown. The county council previously decided to repair the rig rather than spend upwards of $100,000 on a new one.
It’s unclear though exactly what needs to be fixed. There are problems with the engine, but other repairs may also be necessary. Quotes put the engine repair cost at between $16,000 and $19,000. County officials were waiting on a third quote from a Ford dealership in Crown Point before proceeding.
The council discussed the matter at length when they met Tuesday and agreed to have a diesel mechanic at Jim Dobson Ford in Winamac look it over and determine exactly what needs to be fixed and the cost of doing so. Once that information is available, the council may call a special meeting to authorize the work. Money for the repair will be appropriated from the cumulative capital development fund.
