County commissioners discuss ambulance equipment purchases
By Brandy Nance
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
During today's Lyon County commission meeting, city officials asked county commissioners to participate in a capital expenditure totaling more than $100,000.
Jack Taylor, Emporia fire chief, and Blaise Plummer, city attorney, made the request to commissioners. They requested $118,881.85 for several pieces of equipment to be used for ambulance emergency operations.
The first request was for two thermal imaging cameras. Plummer said the cameras can help firefighters find people unconscious on a floor in a smoke-filled room. The cameras also can assist firefighters in detecting hot spots in buildings after a fire has been extinguished. Plummer said the cameras can be used in haz-mat situations such as detecting how much liquid is in a barrel.
The second piece of equipment Plummer talked about was extraction equipment, known as the “jaws of life.”
“It’s absolutely necessary in order to get people out and get them medical attention,” Plummer said.
Plummer also made a request for three auto pulse units. These units are used to improve the way chest compressions are done by using a belt that compresses the chest automatically.
“Currently we have one and we’d like to be able to equip all the ambulances with one,” Plummer said.
The city is asking for the county to cover the entire price of the equipment and does not anticipate sharing in the cost of the equipment, Plummer said.
Commissioner Bob Davis said it’s something worth looking into and discussing. Commissioners will discuss the issue during tomorrow's commission meeting and give the city direction.
“We’ll have some kind of direction on it tomorrow,” Commission Chairman Marshall Miller said.
Other items discussed during today's commission meeting:
• The cost of snow removal to the county is as follows: Saturday — labor and equipment, sand and salt: $3,886.01; Sunday — labor and equipment and sand and salt $4,785.30; Sunday for blades — labor and equipment $14,771.48.
• Karen Hartenbower, county clerk, discussed election workers’ pay structure. She proposed the $80 a day work day pay remain and increasing the training fee to $20. She also proposed a $25 additional increase in the supervising judge’s pay. Hartenbower estimates the cost of this year’s election to be $1,870. The item was placed on today’s consent agenda.