Overton County Commission approved some $303 thousand dollars in grant funds to purchase a new four-wheel-drive ambulance and loading equipment for the county’s emergency medical services.
Commissioner Roger Carr said the funding comes through a TN8 Fire and Safety grant provided by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Carr said the grant will cover the full cost of a brand new Ford F-350 ambulance for the county.
“And there’s no match for this grant either, so it’ll be straight cash for a brand new ambulance for the county, which is a blessing to have that because they’re they’re getting higher and higher every year,” Carr said.
Carr said the budget committee previously approved the request for the funding in July. Carr said the grant includes both the vehicle and a loader.
“It’s going to get one ambulance which is going to be an F350 4-wheel drive, and the total amount of the grant is going to be $303,396,” Carr said.
The commission also authorized Massimo to receive funds from the Brown-Greer opioid settlement to purchase safes for the county’s fleet of ambulances. Carr said state law now requires ambulances to have safes on board to secure narcotics.
“The sheriff if he needed something he could get it for prevention and that’s how we can do that without them having to go before the committee on that,” Donna Savage said.
Carr said the county currently operates eight ambulances that will require the new security equipment. Carr said the opioid settlement funds used for the safes are separate from the regular opioid settlement funding.
The next Overton County Commission meeting is scheduled for September 14.
