California ambulance base construction started

Construction has begun on the new Mid-Mo Ambulance base in California, with footings poured and the concrete work for the walls in the garage has been started.
Construction has begun on the new Mid-Mo Ambulance base in California, with footings poured and the concrete work for the walls in the garage has been started.

The Mid-Mo Ambulance Board of Directors was informed by Administrator Lee Kempf at the meeting Wednesday, June 8, construction has begun on the new Mid-Mo Ambulance base in California. The footings have been poured and the concrete work for the walls in the garage has been started. The location of the new building is just south of the south city limits of California on the east side of Highway 87.

The board approved a bid for $104,146 from ARV, Columbia, to remount the ambulance module of Unit 9 on a new chassis. The ambulance module is a 2007 and mounting it on a 2015 truck chassis will save the district about $90,000 compared to the cost of a new ambulance. In addition, the chassis will carry the seven year, 70,000 mile warranty and the module warranty of 20 years will be honored. Delivery of the new chassis with remounted ambualnce box will be in November or December.

Kempf also advised the board that the new UHF radio system will need additional repeaters to take care of several weak spots. The areas needing better coverage include the Barnett and Rocky Mount areas, and the Lamine River to the western edge of the district.

In other business, the May treasurer's report balance on hand was $473,400.99. Run statistics for May were: Tipton - 54 calls with 41 transports; California - 73 calls, 48 transports; Versailles - 159 calls, 111 transports and Barnett - 16 calls with 11 transports. District wide, there were 302 calls with 211 transports for a transport rate of 78.1 percent.

The next regular meeting is set for 7 p.m., July 13, at the Tipton district office.