Two New Ambulances OK`d for Busiest Bases in N.C.
Sept. 09--Two new North Carolina-built ambulances should arrive this winter at stations in Lexington and Thomasville after county commissioners agreed Tuesday to spend nearly $300,000 already budgeted for the emergency vehicles.
The two ambulances will join 14 others assigned to bases throughout the county, going to the two busiest stations, as is the custom.
"Every time new ones come in, they go to the busiest bases," Larry James, director of the county Department of Emergency Services, said before Tuesday's meeting.
Ambulances stationed at the county's outlying bases typically run up fewer miles and encounter less "wear and tear," James said.
The two new ambulances will replace two current ambulances whose lease expires in February. James said the county opted three years ago to discontinue lease arrangements for ambulances.
"This is just normal replacement," he said.
Emergency vehicles that "run frontline" -- meaning in service, 365 days a year -- typically last three years or so before needing replacing, James said.
County officials decided to buy the two ambulances for $292,726 from Northwestern Emergency Vehicles in Jefferson, in part, because "they have demonstrated a high standard of workmanship and customer service" with vehicles already in the Davidson County fleet.
It took the Davidson County Board of Commissioners just 11 minutes to unanimously approve the ambulance purchases -- and every other item on the agenda for Tuesday's regular meeting.
"A record," said one official.
After a 20-minute closed session to discuss personnel matters, the board returned to open session and voted to adjourn.
If the commissioners and staff were being paid by the hour, they could log 33 minutes for Tuesday evening's meeting.
Michael Weaver can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or michael.weaver@the-dispatch.com. Follow Michael on Twitter: @LexDispatchMW
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