Vehicle could cost county up to $95,000

Adding a new ambulance to its EMS fleet was on the agenda of the Lawrence County Commissioners during its regular Thursday meeting.

Steve Stricklen, sales manager for Burgess Hearse and Ambulance Sales Inc, of Loudonville, presented a proposal for a 2011 McCoy Miller 142-inch module mounted on an E-350 chassis for $83,660.

With additional features, including an LED package, that price could go up to $92,000 to $95,000.

“With the LED package we find we have had less draw on the alternator and very few alternator and light problems,” Buddy Fry, Lawrence County Emergency Medical Services, told the commissioners.

Right now the ambulances in service have on average 200,000 miles on them.

“With SEOEMS (Southeast Ohio Emergency Medical Service) we spent last November and December $50,000 to repair ambulances, when that is almost the price of a new one,” Commissioner Jason Stephens said.

Commissioners approved a resolution to seek financing options on the possible purchase of the new vehicle.

This was Stephens’ last meeting as county commissioner. On Monday he will take over the office of County Auditor, after serving 10 years on the commission.

Family, officeholders and friends filled commissioner chambers wishing him well on his new duties. Stephens, his voice often breaking, read his letter of resignation to the audience.

“As commissioner, I focused on budget management, economic development and community improvement,” he read. “Over the past decade Lawrence County has made great strides in all of these areas. Lawrence County has kept its fiscal house in order through aggressively managing our employees’ compensation programs such as health insurance and workers comp and by consolidating many services and physical locations. But we have also been able to maintain or increase funding for valuable services such as 4H, economic development and most importantly, public safety. …

“Behind the scenes, our staff makes all the wheels go round. They rarely say much publicly, but without these ladies, the many proclamations, grant applications and the other actions of the commissioners simply would not happen. For all of your hard work and dedication, I sincerely thank you.”

Commission president Les Boggs praised Stephens for being a team player.

“Jason has done a tremendous effort,” Boggs said. “He had Lawrence County at heart whenever he has done anything.”

In other actions commissioners:

• Set April 14 as Wheelin’ Sportsmen day;

• Proclaimed April Autism Awareness month;

• Approved a tie down lease for the estate of William Walker at the Lawrence County Airpark;

• Accepted the resignation of full-time paramedics Randy Stevenson and Mark Woodring, effective April 1; and

• Authorized the county treasurer to submit a claim for $2,200 in unclaimed funds from the Ohio Department of Commerce.