Commissioners discuss trial transfer of ambulance to City of Bryan; approve EMT tuition‑reimbursement policy

The board discussed a proposed trial arrangement to transfer an ambulance to the City of Bryan and voted to approve a tuition‑reimbursement policy for Williams County EMS personnel.

Commissioners described a tentative agreement with the city for the county to transfer an older ambulance (described in the meeting as an “O3” with roughly 76,000 miles) on a trial basis, with clauses allowing either party to terminate without hard feelings and quarterly reviews during the first year. Commissioners and staff discussed insurance and maintenance responsibilities, whether the city would pay $1 for the unit, and the risk that a major failure (for example, a transmission) soon after transfer would require renegotiation. Staff and commissioners reported several local businesses volunteering work or materials—vendors including Best 1 and Dablin Corporation offered to sandblast, powder‑coat or otherwise refurbish rims and to perform alignments and oil changes at reduced or no charge. County staff said battery and transmission work had been completed or were being completed on units being prepared for the city.

Separately, the board approved an EMT tuition‑reimbursement plan. The policy language discussed (as read into the record) states 50% reimbursement of tuition for an EMT class after one year of employment and the second 50% after seven years of employment; recipients must remain employees in good standing for the interim periods specified. Commissioners moved to approve the reimbursement and instructed county staff (Kyle) to implement it; the record shows the motion carried. No individual roll call is recorded in the transcript excerpt.

Commissioners asked staff to bring any final written agreement with the City of Bryan back to the board and to circulate the tuition‑reimbursement text to clerks so it could be implemented.