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Columbia County coroner prefers manual mortuary cot; commissioners direct staff to check fit and funding
Summary
The county coroner told commissioners she prefers a $6,302 manual mortuary cot and accessories over a $23,486 powered Stryker gurney; commissioners asked staff to verify fit in the county pickup and to look for grant or ER&R funding options.
The Columbia County coroner told commissioners on July 14 that she prefers buying a manual mortuary cot and accessories priced at $6,302 rather than a powered Stryker gurney quoted at $23,486, and the board directed staff to verify fit and investigate funding options.
On the record, the coroner said she had discussed two equipment options: a powered gurney from Stryker and a manual mortuary cot with a locking mechanism and a “pro flexor” tool to maneuver bodies in difficult locations. “Stryker is $23,486,” the coroner said. She contrasted that with a mortuary cot, cover, locking mechanism and pro flexor she priced at $6,302 and said: “That’s just my preference. Yes. A lot less to go wrong, in my opinion. And I’m the one that has to use it.”
Commissioners asked operational questions about whether the cot would fit in the county pickup and whether the county’s Equipment Repair and Replacement (ER&R) budget could cover the purchase. The coroner said she plans to take measurements herself to confirm fit and to verify the canopy and tailgate configuration before purchase.
One commissioner asked whether grant funds might be available; staff replied that state grant help would be unlikely to be fast, that the item might need to be paid from existing county funds, and that county staff would check for any grant opportunities, including asking Joe (a staff member) about potential grants.
The board did not record a formal motion to spend funds at the meeting; commissioners gave direction to staff to verify measurements, confirm whether the equipment fits the current pickup, and research funding sources (grants or ER&R). The coroner noted that if a powered option were required in the future it could be upgraded then.
No formal contract award or purchase order was approved on the record during the meeting; staff were instructed to return with clarifications and measurement confirmations before a purchase would be finalized.
