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Commissioners approve first-responder recertification, ambulance replacement plan and seek bids for Ten Mile radio tower
Summary
The board approved a 16-hour recertification class for county first responders, authorized sale and use of proceeds to replace damaged ambulances, and directed the manager to solicit bids and prefer county property for a communications tower in the Ten Mile area.
The Appling County Board of Commissioners on April 2 approved three items intended to strengthen emergency response: a recurring 16-hour recertification course for first responders, authorization to sell an old ambulance and combine sale proceeds and insurance funds for a replacement, and a directive to solicit bids for a county-owned communications tower to serve the Ten Mile area.
County Manager Al Meadows said continuing training is necessary because there are no ongoing mandatory recertification requirements after initial training; he introduced Linton Deloach’s 16-hour curriculum, which will be repeated every two years and taught by an EMS member paid from the Rural Fire Department budget. "Appling County has dedicated First Responders that don't hesitate to answer the call for help in our county," Meadows said in explaining why the county should fund ongoing training.
On ambulance fleet needs, Meadows recounted recent accidents that left one older ambulance totaled (insurance payout $49,950) and another out of service for several months. He requested authority to sell an older unit and to use the sale proceeds plus insurance to purchase a replacement; Commissioner Doug Harris made the motion to approve the request and the board approved it unanimously.
Meadows also raised a communications issue: a radio repeater that serves Ten Mile was located on private property and the new owner is seeking $2,000 a year for continued placement. Meadows said initial research shows the county could buy and erect a roughly 100-foot tower for about $30,000 and would need an easement for a build site. Mike Monroe, who has worked on local radio towers for 45 years, answered commissioners’ questions. The board voted to solicit bids from landowners and to prefer placing the tower on county property when feasible, with a minimum recommended height of 40 feet.
Kelsey Powell told commissioners she used scenarios common to Appling County calls when helping design the recertification training. The motions to approve training, the ambulance replacement plan and to seek tower bids carried at the meeting.
