The Starke County Commissioners heard from EMS Director James Garner during their meeting Monday.
Director Garner approached the commissioners with four quotes in hopes of purchasing an ambulance. As of now, Garner stated the county has been using a loner vehicle from North West Health Starke along with three out of the four county ambulances to get by.
The first quote announced was a used 2014 Ford E450 with 125,000 miles for $22,000 from Osage Ambulances. Garner stated this particular ambulance is an older LaPorte County unit and was well maintained. The second quote Director Garner announced was a 2022 refurbished unit on a brand new Ford E450 that has been completely brought up to current specifications. The quote came from Elite Ambulance Sales in the amount of $180,850. The third quote brought forth was for a 2023 Ford E350 in the amount of $197,000. The final quote received came in at $229,565 for a 2025 Ford E450.
Starke County Auditor Rachel Oesterreich told WKVI News, the county received $156,600 from the county’s insurance provider involving the accident that took place earlier this month. She added $35,000 in total was donated by the Northern Indiana Community Foundation to go toward supplies and the $22,000 ambulance from Osage if approved by the commissioners.
During their meeting, a motion was made to purchase the used 2014 Ford E450 for $22,000 and the refurbished 2022 Ford E450 ambulance in the amount of $180,850. It was noted the donation from the Northern Indiana Community Foundation would go toward the $22,000 ambulance. That motion was seconded and passed unanimously by vote.
Oesterreich said the $156,600 received from the county’s insurance provider will go toward the newly refurbished ambulance. She added the remaining $24,250 will come out of the county’s ARPA fund with the rest coming out of the Cumulative Capital Development Fund.
