Vermillion County commissioners agreed to arrange a public joint meeting with the county council, RISE and other stakeholders to review the county ambulance study, options for service delivery and a proposed facility.

Members of an ambulance planning committee told commissioners the group has worked on coverage options for about three years and recommended a facility site near the north side of the school corporation to improve response times. Rick Weir, a member of the payments committee, told the board: “We’ve been working on this project for 3 years, and no we basically no longer have a Vermillion County ambulance service other than we're co‑working with Park County.” He asked commissioners to review materials and to host a meeting to share information.

Commissioners and committee members discussed two policy paths: (1) proceed with engineering plans and a single new county facility and apply for a 90/10 grant (county to supply 10 percent of the project cost), or (2) invest instead in an additional ambulance unit and use existing buildings and agreements with local fire departments to expand coverage. Commissioners said engineering work already incurred — the transcript references about $85,000 in engineering fees — could be used toward the county’s local match under a 90/10 grant.

One commissioner noted the engineers’ cost estimate for a new facility at roughly $750,000, and legal/administrative staff flagged the grant deadline (noted in the meeting) as June 2. A commissioner who has worked on the ambulance planning said: “When it comes to a grant process, they don't look at what you think. They look at what the engineer says,” underscoring the committee's view that the engineering estimates are important to the grant application.

Commissioners agreed to solicit materials to be sent to newly seated Commissioner Misty Hess for review, then to coordinate a joint public meeting with the county council and other stakeholders so members of the public and affected agencies can ask questions. Commissioners said the meeting will be advertised and intended to be informational rather than a decision session.

Committee members and residents said response times across the county would improve with a third ambulance; opponents or cautious commissioners said fiscal constraints and council funding limits make examining multiple options prudent. Commissioners did not commit to a construction schedule at the meeting; they asked staff and committee members to circulate project materials, meet with Commissioner Hess and then set a date for the joint public review.