Board approves up to $70,000 to buy used ambulance after wreck reduces county fleet

Amelia County supervisors voted on March 18 to allow staff to spend up to $70,000 to purchase a used ambulance to restore county emergency medical coverage after a recent wreck and other maintenance issues left the fleet short.

Board members discussed options and agreed the county needed a short-term solution while a new ambulance ordered for delivery in October is still months away. Officials said the vehicle under consideration is a 2018 model being offered at $60,000; upfitting and state certification could require as much as $10,000 more.

Interim County Administrator Clarence Mundy described the purchase as a pragmatic, short-term bridge to maintain reliable 911 response: "In order to provide reliable service, you gotta have an adequate fleet of vehicles," he said during the discussion. County staff and volunteers had inspected the vehicle; a volunteer driver who examined it noted only minor wear.

Supervisors debated broader fleet-management issues, including faster turnaround for emergency vehicle repairs and whether to rely on used vehicles as a long-term strategy. One supervisor asked staff to develop policies to limit prolonged out-of-service times for county-funded emergency vehicles.

A motion to authorize the county to purchase the used ambulance and upfit it for service, not to exceed $70,000, passed by voice vote. The board did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting minutes; members discussed how to identify funding for the purchase after approving the appropriation authority.

The board noted the purchase would remain county-owned and available for squad use while the county waits for new units expected later in the year.