The Starke County Council members considered the purchase of a new ambulance for Starke County EMS this week.
Starke County EMS Director Travis Clary and Clerk Mary Lynn Ritchie presented the three quotes to the commissioners, but the commissioners thought it should go to the council for approval.
The Medwerks/Crossroads Ambulance quote for a remounted box on a Chevy chassis came in at just under $122,000, and quotes for brand new ambulances came from Osage Ambulance at nearly $127,000, and Demers Ambulance at $131,600.
Council President Brad Hazelton said he’d rather spend the extra $5,000 to get a brand new ambulance rather than a remounted box.
The new ambulance would replace a diesel ambulance on the fleet. The diesel ambulance could be used as a primary transfer unit at Starke Hospital in Knox, if an agreement can be reached with hospital officials. The transfers could be a great revenue source for EMS. If that is not accomplished, the ambulance could be sold.
The council members unanimously approved the purchase of an ambulance from Osage at a cost of $126,995. The commissioners plan to purchase the ambulance out of the Cumulative Capital Development Fund.
