Fremont County approves secure-transport licenses and permits dozens of vehicles for three providers

The Fremont County Board of County Commissioners on a unanimous series of votes approved licensing and vehicle permits Thursday that allow three private companies to provide secure transportation services for behavioral-health transports in the county.

County Attorney Eric Bellas summarized the program before the votes, explaining that secure transportation services are a tier below ground ambulance services and are regulated by provider class (Class A providers may use limited physical restraint; Class B may not) and vehicle type (Type 1 vehicles have a physical barrier between driver and passenger; Type 2 do not). "These are for behavioral health transports," Bellas said, explaining why the county issues separate licenses for providers and permits for each vehicle.

Why it matters: The approvals allow local private providers to operate and bill for secure transports within Fremont County, increasing local capacity for non-ambulance behavioral-health transports and formalizing oversight of vehicles and provider classes.

The board first approved a license authorizing MedRide LLC to operate as a secure-transport provider (Class B). The board then approved a license for Super Transit LLC and subsequently approved Broncos Bridal LLC for secure-transport permitting. After licensing, the board voted to permit specific vehicles for each provider; the motions and roll calls recorded each outcome.

Votes and motions (as recorded at the meeting): - Motion to license MedRide LLC to provide secure transportation services (Class B). Vote: Commissioner Bell — Aye; Commissioner McFall — Aye; Commissioner Grantham — Aye. Outcome: approved. - Motion to license Super Transit LLC for secure transport services. Vote: Commissioner McFall — Aye; Commissioner Bell — Aye; Commissioner Grantham — Aye. Outcome: approved. - Motion to approve permitting for Broncos Ride LLC as a secure-transport service. Vote: Commissioner Bell — Aye; Commissioner McFall — Aye; Commissioner Grantham — Aye. Outcome: approved.

Vehicle permits approved (as read into the record): - Super Transit LLC: 2015 Ford Explorer (Type 1) and 2011 Toyota RAV4 (Type 2). - Broncos Ride LLC: 2015 Toyota Prius (Type 2) and 2016 Ford Explorer (Type 1). - MedRide LLC: a long list of Type 2 vehicles recorded in the minutes, including 2020 Toyota Sienna, 2024 Kia Carnival, 2024 Hyundai Tucson, 2023 Kia Sportage, 2019 Hyundai Sonata, 2022 Chrysler Voyager, 2023 Nissan Rogue, 2022 Chrysler Pacifica, 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan and several other model-year Hyundai, Kia and Chrysler vans and SUVs (the transcript lists many specific model years and makes; the clerk will include the full list in the minutes).

The board approved one-year permits for the vehicles where indicated; staff noted the vehicle permits will appear individually in the minutes for clarity.

What was said: County Attorney Bellas described the difference between Class A and Class B licenses and the distinction between Type 1 and Type 2 vehicles. "Class A is essentially one step below ground ambulance services. Class A providers are authorized to use limited physical restraint. Class B are not," he said. Commissioners and staff exchanged procedural questions about separating the licensing motions from the vehicle-permit motions to keep the minutes clear.

What happens next: Staff will finalize and record the full vehicle list in the meeting minutes and issue the corresponding licenses and one-year permits. County staff and the emergency management director were asked to help clerk staff ensure accurate drafting of minutes and permit language.

Sources: Remarks by County Attorney Eric Bellas and the roll-call votes taken on the floor of the Fremont County Board of County Commissioners meeting. The clerk will publish the official minutes listing each permitted vehicle by VIN/model and permit expiry dates.