Jim Wells County accepts $350,000 ambulance grant and approves right-to-use agreement with Allegiance

Jim Wells County commissioners on May 22 approved acceptance of a $350,000 grant from the Texas Comptroller to purchase an ambulance, modifications and related equipment, and they authorized a right-to-use agreement allowing Allegiance Ambulance Service to operate county-owned, grant-funded vehicles.

The judge called the award “huge” for the county’s ability to put another ambulance into rotation and said the vehicles should help reduce response times. Grant administrator Norma Salas presented the award notice and thanked staff who worked on the application.

Under the right-to-use agreement approved by the court, the county retains ownership of the purchased ambulances and equipment while Allegiance will operate and maintain the vehicles. County counsel and staff said the agreement requires the provider to follow all comptroller conditions connected to grant-funded equipment. As one county speaker put it during discussion, “Under paragraph 8, the insurance is directly on them,” meaning the provider must carry insurance to protect the county and the grant-funded equipment.

Commissioners pressed for clarity on whether the additional ambulance will be added to Allegiance’s roster as an extra unit or replace an existing truck and asked how any operating fees or budget impacts would be handled. County counsel said the county will need to supply VIN and equipment details once the vehicle is purchased and that the right-to-use terms will ensure compliance if the county is audited by the comptroller.

The motion to accept the grant and approve the right-to-use agreement passed by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript. County officials said the county will move forward with procurement and bring any contract adjustments back to court if necessary.