Social distancing is still the name of the game in public meetings, at least from a county perspective.
The mid-month meeting of the Simpson County Board of Supervisors was held in the circuit court room in the old courthouse rather than in the normal meeting place, the chancery court in the multi-purpose building.
One of the most important issues for the day was for supervisors to receive bids for ambulance service to start in the county on July 1. Three companies submitted bids to provide service: Care Med Emergency Medical Services, ASAP Emergency Medical Services and Pafford Ambulance Service. The bids were across the board for services rendered.
Care Med Services offered a bid of a $50,000 annual supplement for three ambulances on call 24 hours a day. For three Advanced Life Services units, which includes a paramedic and a sprint truck, allowing a supervisor to arrive on scene more quickly and assess what services are needed, $115,000. For three ALS ambulances and a half time BLS, basic life services ambulance, $225,000. For four ALS ambulances, $385,000.
ASAP offered three ALS ambulances and one sprint for $75,000; four ambulances for $75,000; and three ambulances and half-time sprint truck for $125,000.
Pafford offered three ambulances and a sprint truck for $675,000; four ALS ambulances for $1.35 million; three ALS ambulances and a fourth half-time ambulance for $1,050,000. Their option four included two ALS ambulances and sprint truck as needed for $150,000; and option five was for two ALS ambulances for $75,000.
AMR is still contracted with the county through June 20 for $60,000 for their current level of service. AMR was already discussing reducing that service when the county requested an increase to four ambulances earlier this year.
The board tabled the bids so that they could determine which services would best fit the needs of the county. Negotiation will be held and further discussion will be conducted at the April 24 meeting of the board.
The board voted to extend the emergency declaration for coronavirus precautions for 30 days from the date of April 15 and to follow the lead of the state regarding closings and emergency procedures. The additional time will allow them the flexibility of implementing any orders the state implements during that time frame without the need to call additional meetings to be in compliance.
The board approved a bid from Trustmark as the lowest bid for the purchase of any excavator at the rate of 1.53 percent for a 60-month lease.
The board approved construction cost of emergency barriers at the E-911, Solid Waste, Chancery Clerk and Tax Assessor’s offices in the amount of $18,825. While the move had already been in progress, the precautions for COVID-19 hastened the process.
Supervisors approved a bid from Deanco for the purchase of Road Department equipment in the amount of $111,600 net for five pieces of equipment from the Road Department.
The Sheriff’s Department was approved to apply for a federal JAG grant with a local match of $1250 and the federal amount of $3,750.
The Board of Supervisors’ annual conference was changed from June until August for health concerns.
The board will receive reverse auction bids for three dump trucks and one garbage truck on April 23. The next meeting of the Board of Supervisors will be held Friday, April 24, as a recessed meeting.
