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Ohio County fiscal court approves small-business loan, adopts responsible-bidder ordinance and moves on ambulance fleet work
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Summary
At its April meeting the Ohio County Fiscal Court approved a $42,400 loan for a mobile food-trailer business, adopted Ordinance 2026-3 setting responsible-bidder requirements for county projects over $40,000, accepted an ambulance services contract and authorized advertising for ambulance remount bids amid concerns about high mileage on existing units.
The Ohio County Fiscal Court on an April evening approved several measures aimed at supporting local business, tightening procurement and addressing emergency medical services needs.
The court voted to authorize a $42,400 loan to a new mobile food-trailer business called the Cracked Egg. The loan — described by staff as secured with Oceda as the primary lien and covering only the purchase of the trailer — was presented as a local economic development project the county development board had previously recommended. "They're excited about getting this new business on the floor," the presiding chair said during discussion. The motion to accept the loan passed by voice vote.
During the meeting the court conducted the second reading and adopted Ordinance 2026-3, which adds a responsible-bidder requirement for county-funded construction projects over $40,000. Justin Miller, who proposed the insertion, said the language is intended as a standard bid-package inclusion to require contractors to provide information for the court to determine whether they meet the ordinance’s responsible-bidder criteria. The ordinance passed on a roll-call vote with all members recorded as voting yes.
On emergency medical services, the court accepted Comcare as the county’s upcoming ambulance-service contractor. Fiscal court member Michael McKinney moved to accept Comcare; the motion was seconded and carried. An EMS official told the court that three of the county’s five ambulances have more than 200,000 miles, with two approaching 300,000 miles, and urged the court to advertise for remount bids so the county could use state grant timing (including an early $10,000 chassis down payment) without losing available matching funds. The court voted to advertise for remount bids.
The court also approved routine financial items and authorizations, including acknowledgement of the treasurer’s and clerk’s March financial reports and a formality allowing the county to use $80,000 in RDAP funds for the annual water payment. In personnel business, the wage committee recommended raising the coroner’s salary by $6,000 to $26,000 effective in 2027; the court approved the increase.
Other actions included authorization for the judge to execute documents for housing-development funding (Resolution 2026-4) and approval of a senior-transportation contract administered through the regional GRITS program.
Votes at a glance: - Cracked Egg loan ($42,400) — approved (voice vote). - Ordinance 2026-3 (responsible-bidder requirements) — adopted (roll-call; all recorded yes). - Ambulance services contract (Comcare) — accepted (motion carried). - Remount bids (advertise) — authorized (motion carried). - RDAP funds for annual water payment ($80,000) — authorized (motion carried). - Resolution 2026-4 (housing development representative delegation to judge) — approved (motion carried). - Coroner salary increase to $26,000 (effective 2027) — approved (motion carried).
What happens next: County staff will complete documentation and signature steps for the loan, ordinance and housing resolution; the county will advertise remount bids for ambulances and follow procurement rules under the new ordinance language. The court scheduled the next meeting in two weeks.
