Shelby County committee approves emergency medical-supplies contract and purchase of a fire pumper

On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, a Shelby County committee meeting recommended approval of a contract with Life Assist Inc. for emergency medical supplies for the Shelby County Fire Department and recommended purchase of a new emergency-response pumper.

The medical-supplies contract with Life Assist Inc. is for an amount not to exceed $204,470.85 and would commence on execution through June 30, 2025, with options to renew for two additional 12-month periods covering July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, and July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027. The item was sponsored by Commissioner David C. Bradford Jr. and requires expenditure from FY2025 fire enterprise funds. The committee recorded two aye votes (Commissioners Bradford and Wright) and the chair said the item would go forward with a favorable recommendation.

Shelby County Fire Chief Benson said the supply contract "will allow us to stock our EMS equipment and fire equipment with medical supplies and drugs and all those things it takes us to be proficient in EMS." The chief presented the agreement as a routine procurement to maintain the department's emergency medical capability.

The committee also recommended approval of a resolution to purchase a single emergency-response fire pumper at a cost not to exceed $948,483.11, also sponsored by Commissioner Bradford. Commissioner Bradford moved the item and Commissioner Wright seconded. Chief Benson told commissioners the pumper is already built and "we will get a little sooner, probably within the next few months. It's already built, so we'll already, ready to go." The committee recorded three aye votes (Commissioners Sugarman, Wright and Bradford) and the chair reported the item would go forward with a favorable recommendation.

Commissioner Sugarman asked when a fire station in her district would be reconsidered for construction. Chief Benson said the station remains "on our list of things to do" but that building it is a funding issue; he added that current equipment and manpower are in place to respond in the area today even though the station has not been built. When Sugarman asked whether the station was in the budget for next year, the chief said it was "not for next year." Sugarman said she would meet with staff offline to follow up.

Both items were described to the committee as requiring established FY2025 enterprise funds for the fire department and were moved forward to the next stage with favorable recommendations.

The committee discussion was brief; both procurements were presented as meeting operational needs for the fire department and to avoid gaps in emergency response capability.