By: Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County TimesThe Carter County Ambulance Board ended their year with vehicle issues still at the top of the director’s agenda, but with most of their long term truck issues resolved.
Executive Director Rick Loperfido told the board during their regular December meeting that, since their November meeting, the service had “most all of our truck repairs completed and all (trucks) operational (and) available for use.”
Loperfido reported the service was still experiencing “some lingering issues” with truck number C-15, related to the programming of the onboard computer, but the vehicle is functional and Loperfido said they were working to correct the issue.
With all vehicles running, Loperfido said, they are also taking some time to look at other ongoing maintenance issues with truck C-4. Loperfido explained they have experienced a “nagging issue” with the rear wheels. Specifically, he said, it has “been breaking lug bolts from time to time.” He said they were going to have it looked at to determine if there is a reason this keeps happening with this particular vehicle.
Loperfido told the board they were still looking at the options for placing a carport structure at the back of the building. The purpose of such a structure would be to keep trucks parked outside free of ice and snow accumulation during inclement weather in case they were needed.
In other action Loperfido and Valerie Nolan discussed options to pay Stryker for the shipment of medical devices the service ordered. Rather than incurring extra interest rates by taking out a loan early, he explained, they chose to pay for the partial shipment out of available tax dollars, and to replenish that account from the loan when they take it out to cover the rest of the order.
Loperfido also reported on EMS attendance at the memorial service of Duane Suttles, the fiscal court’s appointment of Sam Lowe to the Ambulance Tax Board. Lowe fills a vacancy left by James Evans when he stepped down from the position.
The Ambulance board also released their schedule of meetings for the coming year. Most of the meetings will adhere to their regular meeting date of the Third Monday. The ambulance board, however, added a second special meeting in January and moved the date of their regular February meeting to a special meeting.
The service will hold their regular January meeting on January 16, followed by a special meeting on January 23.
In lieu of their regular third Monday meeting, the service’s February meeting will be held on the second Monday, February 14.
All meetings are conducted at the Carter County EMS Station in Grayson, 12 Crossbar Road, at 3 p.m. All meetings are open to the public.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com