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County approves match for Clintwood Rescue ambulance grant; Sandy Ridge request discussed but not funded
Summary
The Dickenson County Board approved a $44,883.50 local match for an 80% grant awarded to Clintwood Rescue for a new Ford Transit ambulance. A separate request from Sandy Ridge Rescue for $35,000 toward a used 2009 F450 ambulance with a power-load cot was discussed at length but the board did not approve funding at the meeting.
The Dickenson County Board of Supervisors voted to provide a $44,883.50 local match for an 80% Virginia EMS grant awarded to Clintwood Rescue for a new Ford Transit ambulance and power-load stretcher system.
The vote followed a presentation from county staff explaining that budgeted, non‑general‑fund reserves (LGIP/excess funds identified during the budget process) could cover the match without tapping the general fund. Board members voted in favor by voice; the motion carried.
The decision matters because the new vehicle and powered cot are intended to reduce strain injuries for EMS crews and improve the county’s ability to transport bariatric patients and to operate in winter conditions. County staff and board members said the grant-plus‑match structure makes the acquisition substantially less expensive than purchasing the full vehicle locally.
At the same meeting, a representative of Sandy Ridge Rescue described a separate, urgent need: a used 2009 F450 ambulance (vendor price negotiated to about $35,000) that would bring four‑wheel‑drive capability and a bariatric‑capable power cot to the Sandy Ridge station. The Sandy Ridge speaker said the vehicle’s motor was recently replaced and argued a quick purchase would address safety concerns on steep, icy roads and reduce injuries to crews.
Board discussion focused on three points: (1) the age and mileage on the used unit (the chassis was reported at roughly 170,000 miles with a rebuilt motor showing about 50,000 miles), (2) the county’s existing policy that new funding requests should be carried to the next regular meeting (a “carryover” requirement), and (3) whether the county should prioritize new vehicles to reduce long‑term maintenance expense.
A motion was made to suspend the carryover requirement so the board could act on the Sandy Ridge request immediately; that motion did not receive a second and therefore was not adopted. No appropriation for Sandy Ridge Rescue was approved at the meeting. Board members noted the tradeoff between approving an expedited match now for a used vehicle and waiting to pursue a grant or purchase a newer ambulance that would have fewer projected maintenance costs.
Board members and the Sandy Ridge representative also discussed alternatives: pursuing the next EMS grant cycle, exploring ambulance vendors for a new narrow‑frame “cab‑and‑box” build that would fit Sandy Ridge’s bay, or asking neighboring departments for assistance. Several board members said they were sympathetic to Sandy Ridge’s operational concerns but cautious about committing county funds to a high‑mileage chassis that could require more repairs over time.
The board approved the Clintwood Rescue match and did not approve funding for the Sandy Ridge purchase; members directed staff and rescue leaders to continue exploring grants and procurement options.
Votes at the meeting: the motion to provide the Clintwood Rescue match ($44,883.50) was approved by voice vote; a motion to suspend the board’s carryover policy for the Sandy Ridge request failed for lack of a second.
Ending: Board members asked staff to research grant timelines and vendor options and to return any refined funding requests to a future meeting so the board can compare procurement, warranty and lifecycle costs before committing additional county funds.
