Scott County commissioners review EMS finances and ambulance title issue; West Bank loan discussed
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Summary
County commissioners heard an EMS operations update covering August revenues, the status of a newly acquired ambulance and a financing proposal from West Bank to resolve a lien/default issue with US Bank.
Scott County commissioners heard an update on emergency medical services and a related financing proposal during their Sept. 3 meeting.
The county’s EMS presenter said the August revenue figures were incomplete because “we're still waiting on that last week of deposits and those straggler days,” and estimated the month would end near $1.97 million, with a current “grand total, 1.6 right now with paramedic program,” and that the paramedic program has “stayed pretty stagnant.” The presenter also said a recently purchased ambulance was already in service: “We just took ownership of that last one that we bought.”
Commissioners and other staff then discussed a proposed refinancing option with West Bank to resolve an outstanding issue with US Bank. A county representative summarized the West Bank proposal and said the term would be 5.6% interest, with semiannual payments of about $29,100 starting in 2026 because an already-paid 2025 payment would delay the new schedule. The representative said the refinancing would cost roughly $800 in fees but would avoid using a county asset as collateral to US Bank.
Nick (county-affiliated payer/manager) described the immediate problem with US Bank: after the county paid off radios and purchased an ambulance, US Bank continued to list the county as in default while awaiting the vehicle title. Nick said obtaining a state title in the 15-day window US Bank required was “impossible for the state of Indiana to generate a title and get it to them in 15 days,” leaving the county listed in default until either a payoff or the title appears.
The West Bank proposal described during the meeting would cover payoff of the existing obligation and restructure payments; the county representative said Nick had offered to cover the difference between the county payoff amount and the bank funding, and that county action to approve the loan would be forthcoming.
No formal vote on the West Bank proposal was recorded at the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to bring formal documentation and loan terms for future consideration.
Ending: County staff said they will circulate the full loan paperwork and further financial details to the commission for a future vote. The EMS presenter and finance staff will provide updated August revenue figures when final deposits post.
