Spencer County approves $170,000 EMS equipment purchase; direct ARPA authorization fails but transfer from ARPA to EMS equipment account is approved
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Summary
Spencer County Fiscal Court authorized purchase of two advanced cardiac monitors and four ventilators totaling about $170,000. A motion to directly approve using ARPA funds failed on roll call; the court later approved a transfer of $170,000 from an ARPA account into the EMS equipment account to pay for the purchase.
Spencer County Fiscal Court voted Aug. 15 to buy two Zoll X Series advanced cardiac monitors and four ventilators for the county EMS fleet, approving a purchase package the meeting packet listed at roughly $154,223 without extended warranties (about $168,107 with five‑year warranties).
County Judge Executive John Riley and the court said the equipment will modernize aging monitors and add ventilators that permit improved ventilation for intubated patients. The initial motion to approve the $170,000 purchase was made by Magistrate Brett Beaverson and seconded by Magistrate Jim Travis; the motion passed on roll call with a majority voting in favor.
The court then considered whether to authorize the purchase explicitly from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Judge Riley moved to approve the purchase “using ARPA funds”; Magistrate Tine Brewer seconded that motion. On roll call the motion to specifically designate ARPA funding failed (the minutes record a split vote on that motion). After that failure, Magistrate Beaverson moved — and Judge Riley seconded — a separate motion to transfer $170,000 from ARPA account #0151405500 into the EMS Equipment account #0192009990 to cover the cost. That transfer motion passed on voice vote.
EMS Director Chris Limpp had told the court the oldest monitors are seven years old and that the X Series is compatible with current supplies; the ventilators were presented as new life‑support additions that provide more accurate ventilation for intubated patients and reduce crew exposure during high‑risk airway management. Packets included vendor quotes and a note that Zoll is a sole‑source vendor under statewide contract.
The court also approved other EMS items at the Aug. 15 meeting: travel and hotel expenses up to $2,000 for five employees to attend the state EMS conference in Lexington and hiring two full‑time EMTs (Jessie Decker and Hailey Higgs at $12.50/hour) plus two part‑time EMTs (Michelle Swanson and Daniel Brummert at $13.50/hour), all contingent on drug screens and background checks.
Next steps: the county finance office will process the transfer into the EMS equipment account and vendors will be paid per the quotes and procurement policy.