Commissioners Research Ambulance Service Options

4-H Yoiungsters: Isabel Gaines, Caitlin Haslin, Cassidie States

Brandon Chambers, owner of Med-Trans Ambulance in Lamar, provided the Prowers County Commissioners with an update on the operations of the service this past Tuesday, September 27. 

Chambers said he employs four full-time and four-part time workers for his medical care transportation service.  Commissioner Joe Marble asked if Med-Trans would be interested in becoming a first response unit to structure fires in the area.  The ambulance service would automatically respond to a structure fire in a stand-by capacity, instead of waiting for a call to report to the site.  Chambers said he could explore that possibility, but the service may entail a differing set of payment rates as his staff works on-call for twelve hours and is in a twelve-hour, ready response mode during the daytime.  Marble said that while the number of fires of that nature may be small, there is also a need for on-site ambulances during the fair season.  “For example,” he said, “the PRCA rodeo requires we have an ambulance on site, and that becomes an added expense.”  Chambers said his four ambulances provide coverage for various fairs between Rocky Ford and Lamar, and would supply the commissioners with a list of his rates for all of his services and they could set a later date to discuss their options.  

The commissioners approved the 3.2 beer liquor license renewal application for BPOE Elks Lodge #1319, approved the appointment of Nadine Carter as an alternate on the Area Agency on Aging Advisory Board, approved the 2012 county employee holiday schedule, which will be for 11 paid holidays that year and decided to postpone approval of a 1041 permit for JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding LLC, pending discussion with county attorney John Lefferdink.  Earlier in the year, JBS presented a water augmentation plan for their cattle feeding operation which included a dry up of a portion of their property.  The 1041 Permit regulates the manner in which the land is revegetated and is determined by the county commissioners. 

National 4-H Week will be observed next week, and the commissioners met with area students and Lacy Mann, CSU Southeast Area Extension Agent, and Theresa Butler, District VI 4-H secretary.

By Russ Baldwin