Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Jasper County approves $656,000 in Fire Rescue equipment and orders new ambulance
Summary
The board unanimously approved purchases totaling about $656,000 for Fire Rescue — extrication tools ($59,260.89), three Zoll cardiac monitors ($202,180.50), and a Ten-8 Demers ambulance ($394,540.74) — funded from ARPA, impact fees and the Capital Improvement Fund.
Jasper County commissioners on Feb. 2 voted unanimously to approve a trio of major purchases for the county’s Fire Rescue service — a full set of extrication tools, three Zoll Zenix cardiac monitors, and a new ambulance — using a mix of ARPA funds, impact fees and the county’s Capital Improvement Fund.
Chief Chris Finch told commissioners the county was offered an unusually favorable trade-in for extrication tools and is seeking a full new set for Station 4 plus a Combi tool for Station 2. The board approved the MES equipment package for $59,260.89 “using the remaining ARPA funds and any additional funding needed to come from impact fees,” on a motion by Commissioner Steven Ledford and second by Commissioner Rob Alexander.
Chief Finch also reviewed cardiac monitor options and said crews preferred the Zoll monitors for features and durability; the board approved three Zoll Zenix units at $202,180.50, using remaining Fire Rescue impact fees and Capital Improvement funds (motion by Commissioner Ledford, second by Commissioner Asher Gray). Chief Finch noted the vendor offers maintenance and an annual battery replacement during preventive maintenance.
On the ambulance purchase, Chief Finch noted current fleet mileage and availability. Commissioners approved buying a Ten-8 Fire Safety Demers F-450 ambulance with a power-load system, power stretcher and stair chair for $394,540.74 from the Capital Improvement Fund (motion by Commissioner Asher Gray, second by Commissioner Sheila Pounds). Chief Finch said the Ten-8 in production would arrive sooner and would match the county’s existing apparatus.
All three motions passed unanimously with five commissioners voting yes. County Manager Mike Benton provided fund-balance figures during the ambulance discussion: after the monitor purchase and before the ambulance appropriation, the Capital Improvement Fund balance was stated at roughly $779,380, leaving a multi-hundred-thousand-dollar reserve after the purchases.
The purchases are intended to modernize rescue capability and replace aging vehicles and equipment; Chief Finch emphasized standardizing monitors across the fleet and replacing ambulances with very high mileage units.
