Commissioners approve $201,770 ambulance purchase; EMS director named to finish building

The Barber County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of a 2026 Big Box Osage Type 3 ambulance on an E450 gas chassis in white for $201,770 (before graphics) from the county equipment reserve. The motion to purchase was made by Commissioner Mills and seconded by Commissioner Roe; the board voted to approve the purchase.

EMS Director Mike Loreg told commissioners the new ambulance arrived Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 and is currently being fitted with graphics. Commissioners toured the EMS construction site during the meeting and subsequently assigned Loreg responsibility to oversee the remaining construction and finishing work at the EMS building. The minutes record that the county also discussed housing for Kiowa and operational coordination between EMS and the fire department.

The meeting record shows related facility maintenance actions: custodian Russell Hansen raised flooring concerns and commissioners later approved Stanfield Roofing bids for the Kiowa EMS building roof (see related articles).