The Pulaski County EMS Department may soon be taking advantage of a free smartphone app to help lessen the burden on dispatchers in incidents requiring medical airlift support. Nikki Lowry, EMS director for the county, told the commissioners that there is a new app available to allow responders at the scene to call for a helicopter based on dispatch information. The app only requires a written agreement between the county and a medical helicopter provider such as Samaritan or LifeLine.
American Contracting Service offered a bid of $302,515.20, while LaPorte Construction submitted a bid for $181,102.35. Jack Isom Construction sent in a bid for $169,999.99, JCI Bridge Group submitted one for $176,527.32, and Yates Construction entered their bid for $312.903.27. Rieth-Riley Construction entered a bid of $299,988.
Johnston told the commissioners that he is working on completing a number of maintenance projects, including some deficiencies that were found while repairing the air conditioning at the courthouse. The electrical work at the courthouse has also been completed, though they need to perform some follow-up tasks such as labeling the breaker box.
State Senator Ed Charbonneau visited Pulaski County this week to speak to the county commissioners and council during a joint session held Monday night regarding a revenue bill vetoed by Governor Mike Pence that could affect the county’s CAGIT moneys. State Representative Doug Gutwein previously explained to the boards that a clerical error at the state level could force the county to pay taxpayers back millions of dollars that had been collected by the County Adjusted Gross Income Tax – money that had originally been collected to cover the cost of the jail – because the state claims that the county overcharged its taxpayers. The county still owes roughly $5 million on the jail facility.
