Court approves increased monthly payment to local ambulance provider as service moves to lower end of county

The Letcher County Fiscal Court voted on June 29 to increase the monthly payment to a local ambulance provider, identified in the meeting record as Carter, to help cover utilities and higher operating costs as the provider begins operating in the county's lower end.

Court members said Carter will pay utilities for the building where the unit will be based and that moving operations down-county would increase utilities and staffing costs. A court member told the meeting that Carter had not previously asked for extra funds, but that the added expense could leave him operating in the red; the court moved to increase the monthly payment to mitigate that risk. The transcript records a motion and second and shows the court approving the payment increase by recorded assent.

The court discussed whether other departments should receive additional funds as well and agreed to revisit broader contract adjustments at the next regular meeting. Staff also noted the county's upcoming contract-renewal cycle and said transfers or budget adjustments could be made if the court chose to increase other departments' support.

Next steps: staff will finalize the contract/payment amendment with Carter and report back at the regular July meeting. The payment change was ordered effective immediately as approved at the special meeting.