Since the last ambulance sale fell through, Starke County EMS Director Travis Clary presented the commissioners with information Monday night on another used ambulance for purchase.
“I’ve been talking to Charlie (Chesak, Starke County Commission President) mainly about the different ambulance options we’ve had here,” explained Clary. “We’ve had a few here that have been sold out from underneath us. We’re still talking about this used ambulance. This one I’ve found it’s actually being retired from the Plainfield Fire Department. Everything is immaculate. This truck only has 70,000 miles on it. He’s looking for $40,000. It’s a Chevy 6.6. The only downfall to this is it won’t be ready for another 45 to 60 days.”
He noted that a refrigerator is included in the ambulance which is a benefit with some of the medications used by EMTs and paramedics that require refrigeration. I
The ambulance would be used as the primary transfer unit at Starke Hospital. The current unit is aging and would be used as a backup unit if another truck is out for repairs.
Clary presented another ambulance for $50,000 but it is a Ford when Clary was looking for a Chevy chassis. The Ford ambulance has a diesel engine with 133,000 miles on it. A gas engine model is available, but Clary wants to stay with a diesel engine.
The commissioners voted unanimously to allow Clary to purchase the Chevy ambulance at a cost of $40,000.
