By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
The Carter County Emergency Ambulance Service has a new vehicle in their garage, thanks to an assistance to firefighters grant through FEMA they were awarded late last year.
“We were awarded in October of ’23,” former ambulance service director Rick Loperfido explained. “We applied for it back in the fall of ’23, and were awarded ($154,463.63). The total amount of the truck was $169,910.00,” Loperfido said, with the ambulance service covering ten percent of the total cost, or $15,446.37.
“That’s usually the requirement, is to pay ten percent of getting the award,” Loperfido added.
That total cost covers a 2023 Wheeled Coach 148 inch CitiMedic module, mounted on a Chevrolet G3500 gasoline chassis. That total did not include lettering and striping, which Loperfido said came to another $4,500.
The ambulance, purchased through Burgess Ambulance Sales, in Loudonville, Ohio, is now ready and on the road, serving the county.
“It’s ready to hit the road now,” Loperfido said.
He explained that they had applied for the grant before, but this was the first time they’d been approved. He hopes that, moving forward, they’ll be better positioned to be approved for further grants.
“I’m hopeful that they’ll be able to apply in the future for more,” he said.
Loperfido also extended his gratitude to Representative Hal Rogers office for their assistance with letters of support for the grant.
This truck has been designated to replace one of the older trucks currently on the road, Loperfido said, with that older truck placed in reserve in case they have need for it. This does not increase the service’s license for the number of trucks they can have on active runs.
While Loperfido was instrumental in securing this grant, the ambulance service’s new director, Tim Woods, will be the lead in any future grants. Woods, who was recently promoted to the director position by the board after serving as interim director following Loperfido’s retirement at the end of last year, said he was grateful for the work Loperfido had done in securing the grant and helping set the ambulance service up for success.
“The maintenance costs are going to be reduced tremendously,” Woods said, noting that the ambulance service has struggled with keeping trucks on the road due to an aging fleet.
“We’re very thankful for the AFG grant,” Woods said. “Rick did a great job of getting that money to us through the grant, and I’m thankful to step into this position and have that (for the use of the department.) It’s going to be a real benefit.”
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
