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At work session, county manager outlines ambulance fees, SEID trail grant and a radio-equipment quote; coroner seeks budget amendment
Summary
In a Dec. 22 work session, County Manager Thomas Weaver explained ambulance-fee structure (including a $75 treat-no-transport charge) and reported a $600,000 SEID grant award for a trail project; public speaker Ron Hedgecoke asked for a $2,000 coroner budget amendment to retain a deputy coroner. The sheriff’s radio-equipment quote (~$68,152) and selection of engineers for the SEID grant were flagged for the Jan. 6 agenda.
County Manager Thomas Weaver summarized a range of public-safety and infrastructure items at the board’s Dec. 22 work session and staff and a community speaker asked the commission to consider near-term budget and procurement steps.
Ron Hedgecoke told the commission he needs funding to retain an additional deputy coroner and asked that the coroner’s budget be amended by $2,000 so the county can maintain three coroners and provide 24-hour coverage; the work-session minutes record his request but show no immediate vote. "He is asking the Commission to amend the coroner budget for $2000.00 to keep an extra deputy coroner," the minutes state.
Weaver addressed ongoing community concerns about EMS bills following an earlier public comment and described standard regional transport rates included in the record (examples listed in the minutes: basic ALS ~$1,000, ALS2 ~$1,600; specific codes and examples are provided in the work-session notes). He explained the $75 fee is charged when responders provide treatment but do not transport a patient, noting costs the county still incurs for crew response, fuel and supplies. Weaver said he would prepare an itemized breakdown of ambulance charges for the commission to review at a future meeting.
Weaver also reported the county received notice that it was awarded a $600,000 SEID grant to support the beginning of a trail originating from Fort Benning; he said the county must select an engineer and noted three firms and preliminary scoring (EMC Engineering 45, Moon Meeks & Associates 45, Ingram & Associates 17), and recommended proceeding with procurement steps. He suggested the trail alignment may include a sidewalk connection from the library to the recreation center and discussed alternative sites for a rodeo arena and timbering activity on a 16-acre tract, but said specifics would proceed through future agenda items.
Public safety procurement: Weaver said the sheriff’s office has requested new radio equipment; the installed-equipment quote in the record lists equipment totaling about $68,152 for the sheriff’s radios. Weaver asked that a vendor representative and sheriff attend the Jan. 6 meeting to present details before any purchase authorization.
Operational notes included water-department work (Tank #4 cleaning and pump repairs), adjustments to trash-pickup schedules for holiday weeks, Broad Street cleanup for a recent parade and plans to energize a new storage building. Recreation staff extended basketball registration and planned installation of hand dryers in park restrooms.
The work session entered executive session for personnel and reconvened; no votes on the above items are recorded in the minutes. Remaining procurement and budget requests were set for future agenda items so the board can receive formal presentations and consider voteable motions.
What to watch: the county manager’s commitment to provide an itemized ambulance-charge schedule at a future meeting; the Jan. 6 agenda expected to include the radio-equipment vendor and the engineer selection for the SEID grant.
