Buchanan County supervisors approve letter supporting federal grant for new ambulance

The Buchanan County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to draft a letter supporting a federal grant application through Congresswoman Hinson’s office to fund a new ambulance and related equipment.

John Kurtz, a county supervisor, moved to authorize drafting the letter and to include options for how the county could provide its required cost share; Keith Wieland seconded the motion. The board recorded the total project cost as $663,287.21, a maximum federal award of $497,465.41 and a county cost share of $165,819.80. The motion authorized the chair to sign the letter on the board’s behalf and carried by unanimous voice vote.

Dawn Vogel, chairperson of the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors, presided over the special session, which convened at 8:05 a.m. and ended at 8:19 a.m. Vogel participated in the vote approving the motion to draft the letter.

Board members discussed two possible ways to cover the county cost share that were to be referenced in the support letter: using county reserves or providing the funding through taxation via the current EMS levy. No final funding decision was made during the meeting; the motion directed staff to include those possible approaches in the letter of support rather than selecting a specific funding method.

Motions and votes recorded: Kurtz moved to draft a letter of support and authorize the chair to sign; Wieland seconded; the motion passed unanimously. Kurtz subsequently moved to adjourn; Vogel seconded; the motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 8:19 a.m.

The board did not identify the specific federal grant program by name during the session; the letter of support was to accompany an application submitted through Congresswoman Hinson’s office.