Van Buren County will apply for a USDA grant to purchase Sheriff’s Department vehicles and ambulance equipment.
The grant is eligible up to $250,000 with the county providing a 45 percent match. Mayor Greg Wilson said adding two vehicles to the sheriff’s department and new heart monitors for ambulances is an immediate need.
“Hopefully it will be submitted, I think it should be submitted sometime in April,” Wilson said. “We’ll probably find out in maybe June, possibly July if we get that grant. So hopefully we will, it will help save a lot of dollars for Van Buren County.”
Wilson said the estimated cost for two vehicles and the ambulance equipment is roughly $235,000. Wilson said a new vehicle was not purchased for the sheriff’s department last year.
“We were planning on buying a vehicle for the sheriff’s department this year, and we’re going to be budgeting that,” Wilson said. “So, now we’re going to be able to take and buy two vehicles. He did not buy one last year, so we’re going to buy two this year with that grant.”
He said he expects this to be budgeted in the 2021-2022 fiscal year budget. Wilson said UCDD is helping the county prepare and submit its USDA grant application.
