[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6189090,"mediaKeyId","5058581-d1a3dbb6b2670b16ed5341fc6c1c3729","parentId",5058581,"title","Cooke County EMS outlines ambulance, equipment and staffing needs as calls rise","audioSeconds",1438,"startMs",2431000,"endMs",3869000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5058581-d1a3dbb6b2670b16ed5341fc6c1c3729&start=2431&end=3869","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5058581-d1a3dbb6b2670b16ed5341fc6c1c3729/thumbnail_2431000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6189090/Cooke-County/Texas/Cooke-County-EMS-outlines-ambulance-equipment-and-staffing-needs-as-calls-rise","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189090-b210286178aaafa1296cbf6b09495f29/orig.mp4?Expires=1775372261&Signature=ZfVW9o2rDJgB7LqW8RvyaQa6CkXJLeCdKoIxjhesQ3CGv4rdduo35ZEisdvtLQGIGvCLUHJnDBSazIn6A74gZtJ7NRfjkr-i8yePWvQh0nT-5XKcqRo2gvaTOjCsR0UN3SwVaaF1H22R~zwY~7BadOfig41tUCl1nfa-gXkB1bl5qngXdw0VPhxvZtQxpihfn2hHWpPDYTA~Y60iJkmxBUdDsBgzWEXvl6UAnd5ZpjNdbXBkaMnsFL9m0jTL-bLQwmjqTvc~uuLhhcx1u6QV8kwgDYTZPqtq9QciAyNeod-TKaevFs~9sqpL0R71EYX2Qts-qEpR7wPy2nw5atikdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cooke County, Texas","date","2025-06-24T20:53:03.937Z","article","Wes (first name only), an emergency‑services official speaking for Cooke County EMS/Fire, presented the department’s FY26 budget highlights on Oct. 11, pressing for equipment replacements, planning for increased call volume and a proposed associate medical director.

On life‑support equipment, Wes said many patient cots are past recommended service life and quoted a price of $37,654 for a Stryker cot. “The medical field is ridiculously expensive for a cot. It's $37,654,” he told the court. He said the department plans to replace one cot per year and noted that some older units are no longer eligible for manufacturer service agreements.

Wes recommended looking at remounting an eligible ambulance rather than buying a new unit, citing a remount as roughly $90,000 cheaper than a new ambulance in the department’s cost estimate. He said the county’s backup ambulance lacks some capabilities of the frontline unit, reducing service capacity when the backup is used.

Wes also discussed service capacity: projected call volume for the year was about 6,224 calls and response time had increased to 9 minutes, 7 seconds (up from 8 minutes, 48 seconds). He said roughly 30% of EMS trips go out of county for specialty care and that average total call time is about 53 minutes in‑county and about 1 hour 20 minutes for out‑of‑county transports.

To address growing demand, Wes proposed considering an additional ambulance and possibly a new station in developing areas such as Valley View, but he described that as a longer‑term planning issue because of the expense. He also described a potential intermediate step of relocating or modifying existing stations to house an additional crew without new construction.

Wes proposed adding an associate medical director to share the load with the current medical director. He said local physician engagement had been helpful and proposed a budget figure of $40,000 up to $65,000 for medical direction — lower than commercial services many departments use.

Wes noted a new state rural ambulance grant that may accept applications starting in September with county fiscal‑year timing affecting when the county can apply; he said the department would monitor that opportunity but emphasized it is not guaranteed. No formal actions were taken at the hearing; the items were entered into the FY26 budget record for commission consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cooke County Texas Special Commissioners Court 6-23-2025 - Budget Hearings","oneSentenceSummary","Wes, an emergency‑services official, told commissioners the county’s EMS needs include new Stryker cots priced about $37,654, consideration of remounts for ambulances, a possible additional ambulance/station as call volume grows (projected 6,224 calls), and an associate medical director position to support protocols.","taxTitle","taxId",64433,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6189095,"Sheriff details equipment and staffing requests in Cooke County FY26 budget hearing",3646,956000,4602000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5058581-d1a3dbb6b2670b16ed5341fc6c1c3729&start=956&end=4602","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5058581-d1a3dbb6b2670b16ed5341fc6c1c3729/thumbnail_956000.jpg","/articles/6189095/Cooke-County/Texas/Sheriff-details-equipment-and-staffing-requests-in-Cooke-County-FY26-budget-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189095-c330f42358608494e12c55accc1982b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775372261&Signature=jhOt1qIac2FkIugoFhiAvKeK5Pwqh9a70QHuPQI4BmDxtOp90wQQeJ4soNK3KQHHTFiFV6zyMkPuttZFpFRf0eDuflbuDQd9Fo~rXxbXDR2ldEM1iE-FGLV0~YEvLAIh6~WcORGm~Noac7GdqrrG1AXu0hvecRxpGUS9SVzGS9ETn6w5eiC5DQ0k1JOIbZS3nAZRIVG2eMqQdtJ7QjW4j0SBb0uHgFnPuZ~WLDt5aVz2f82AffCKU7n-knsUIwvUhQkeC9r-191LbB4AxOcELo~T0w8JU9BmSixTP~Eo3orocRRBN8GHVV4xkLQx7GieIaAvi57w2JLiCXxD1kbU2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The sheriff (unnamed in the record) presented Cooke County’s Sheriff’s Office budget requests during the Oct. 11 department budget hearings, emphasizing equipment replacements, maintenance and personnel needed to sustain transport, jail and investigative operations.

On the jail side, the sheriff said the office is seeking funds for a replacement transport van after reducing a prior line from $282,000 to a quoted ~$99,000 for a 15‑passenger unit. He described the current van as 11 years old and said long‑distance inmate transports raise safety and reliability concerns.

The sheriff detailed equipment and maintenance requests: replacement tasers (he said current models are no longer manufactured and the department plans to buy roughly five per year for both jail and patrol, noting a single taser can cost about $4,000–$5,000), increased body‑armor purchases, and recurring maintenance for air handlers and compressors (figures cited included about $48,000 for air‑handler and $48,000 for compressor units). He also added a $50,000 contingency in the commissary line to support water‑related purchases if a suitable vendor is found.

On correctional operations the sheriff reported the county continues to house inmates from other jurisdictions and cited a per‑tray feeding cost of about $2.36. He said Denton and Grayson inmate numbers have dropped and the county hopes to keep housing revenue where possible.

On investigative staffing, the sheriff requested an additional CID investigator dedicated to crimes against children, citing a “large increase” in those cases and the end of a task force that previously handled many of them. He said the cost including benefits for that position is approximately $91,006. He also asked for a 5% salary adjustment for the evidence technician, an increase the sheriff estimated at about $5,002.92, describing the evidence technician’s role in complex digital forensics and chain‑of‑custody work.

The sheriff repeatedly emphasized recruitment and retention pressures. “We probably a month ago, we were, 8 short,” he said. “You think about 8 short and you only got 20 to begin with? That's that's a challenge to cover 900 square miles.” He said the office relies on overtime to cover patrol shifts and that pay competitiveness is the principal limiting factor.

The sheriff also discussed use of seized funds, saying the office has approximately “200 and something thousand dollars” in seized accounts and that some equipment and vehicles had been purchased from those funds but are pending court action to turn property over for county use.

Several training and equipment items were cited in discussion: a dispatcher subscription that would provide up to 16 hours of online training per dispatcher; an increased ammunition budget; and a move away from a vendor that delayed vehicle deliveries. The sheriff described choices county staff could make if budget pressures require cuts (for example dropping one marked vehicle), but he did not present a formal motion or request a vote; his comments were entered for the FY26 budget deliberations.

No formal action or vote on the sheriff’s requests was recorded at the hearing. Commissioners and staff asked clarifying questions during the presentation; several budget line items and personnel requests were left for the court to consider during formal budget adoption.","At a department budget hearing the sheriff outlined replacement and maintenance requests — a transport van, new tasers, body armor, commissary contingency and air‑handler work — and pressed for an additional CID investigator and an evidence technician salary adjustment amid staffing shortages and reliance on seized funds for equipment.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6189100,"Local volunteer ‘loss team’ asks Cooke County to match $4,000 donation to expand post‑suicide support",509,579000,1088000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5058581-d1a3dbb6b2670b16ed5341fc6c1c3729&start=579&end=1088","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5058581-d1a3dbb6b2670b16ed5341fc6c1c3729/thumbnail_579000.jpg","/articles/6189100/Cooke-County/Texas/Local-volunteer-loss-team-asks-Cooke-County-to-match-4000-donation-to-expand-postsuicide-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6189100-a2bd759b1595e1a0f10bbc5edef64a41/orig.mp4?Expires=1775372261&Signature=NyV2PB7QbeSDpWZsw8aiekG8gBuuT9HJNJPONtcplCNk~BwNDorYIp6A7g1B1QEpV0SKiR4QEd5li0DAm5QD5n2ZjDLW43dEMnget4nIT80HnItWioX0eK5U0n0vumIOXuu-TeN6767geK6b9YA3pWXSQ9DAlKqTdcWD~ABE7DA1cnMDwaJtG0v0EKUppfa1Am-roXVDUrSI3u7VfkxE8Jd03G1-MKAhqjVao~ArMgPKIjG2UECEjRJdoosBY2IgXiZ0k4OYHtaihLFCDnKTFrFPg4Gl0IAEjo-H5nVFUDXoxiopokg-3b439MAKVJnhGcNAs~C8UFIp385mtE4r0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jonna Green, founder and coordinator of the Cooke County Loss Team, told the Cooke County Commissioners Court on Oct. 11 that her volunteer group provides immediate, 24/7 post‑suicide support and asked the court to consider matching a $4,000 donation she has committed to the nonprofit.

Green said the Loss Team deploys two‑person volunteer teams and that “I have actually 20 volunteers, that go out in teams of 2.” She described volunteers as mental‑health professionals, social workers, clergy and suicide survivors who provide immediate practical and emotional help to families after a death by suicide.

The request matters because the group said it fills gaps between crisis response and longer‑term services. Green said the team works closely with local schools and has helped families with cleanup services, hotel rooms and immediate supplies. “Each family member gets a bag that’s got approximately about a $100 that we spend at least on those bags of providing immediate resources for them,” she said.

Green said the county has suffered recent losses among students: “maybe you may not have known or aware or not, but we have lost 3 students since February in our county,” and the team has been involved in school outreach, including helping start a Hope Squad and planning community outreach events. She also described veteran outreach and public messaging the Loss Team pays for, saying they run ads on three billboards on I‑35 and U.S. 82.

The group is volunteer‑run and relies on local support, Green said: “We are the only loss team in America, and we have gotten recognized for it. We’re the only loss team that is 100% volunteer run.” She asked commissioners to consider incorporating financial support into the county budget or to otherwise “work that in where you could help support us.”

At the hearing Green did not present a formal grant application or a motion; she offered the donation and a request that the commissioners consider matching it during budget deliberations. No formal action was recorded during her remarks.

The Loss Team’s presentation included specific immediate needs it fills — hotel rooms, cleanup assistance, food, and the care bags — and the group emphasized its school‑based liaison role and collaborations with other local mental‑health efforts.

The commission did not vote or take formal action on Green’s request at the hearing; her remarks were presented as part of the county’s department budget hearings and were entered into the record for consideration during the budget process.","Jonna Green, founder of the Cooke County Loss Team, told the Cooke County Commissioners Court the all‑volunteer group provides 24/7 postvention services and asked the county to consider matching a $4,000 donation to help sustain and expand services for families and schools.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cooke County EMS outlines ambulance, equipment and staffing needs as calls rise

Sheriff details equipment and staffing requests in Cooke County FY26 budget hearing

Local volunteer ‘loss team’ asks Cooke County to match $4,000 donation to expand post‑suicide support