Puny Ambulance Again Court Topic
The Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court on April 14 once again discussed problems with an underpowered ambulance that is stationed in Garden City. Commissioner Mark Halfmann told the court that Emergency Medical Service personnel are seriously concerned about the ambulance. Halfmann reported that EMT’s say the 1994 diesel unit can barely reach 55 or 60 mph if there is any wind. He said EMT’s are worried that this lack of speed could mean loss of a patient’s life if time is critical. He said EMT’s are more concerned about this problem than with themselves getting paid for making ambulance runs.
The court has discussed the same problem with the same ambulance at least twice before. EMT Mitchell Jansa brought it to the court’s attention in February 2001, at which time he described the same lack of power. He said so little power (and speed) in an emergency vehicle is unacceptable. As an example of the lack of power, he described how the vehicle is often unable to pass traffic that moves over to let the ambulance go by.
In July 2001, the court again discussed the ambulance, and considered a turbo charger for the unit’s existing engine, but seemed to agree that a new Ford power stroke engine was a better choice. Also, keeping the patient transport compartment (“the box”) while replacing the rest of the unit, including the engine, has been mentioned as an option. No action has been taken.
The matter will be discussed again at the May 12 court meeting, when Emergency Management Coordinator Kenny Batla can attend. County Judge Wilburn Bednar said Batla has been checking into possible grant money.
County to Get More Paved Roads
The court accepted a bid of $143,372 from Jones Bros. for the county’s 2003 paving. The project will consist of five miles of new pavement on County Road 490, seal coating two miles at the north end of CR 415, and paving two streets and the strip east of the post office in Garden City. The only other bid was from Van Zandt Paving in the amount of $170,000.
The court agreed to allow a 4-H bulletin board to be placed in the hallway outside extension offices in the Community Center.
After a closed session to discuss personnel, Bednar reported that Jesse Trevino had resigned from the county road crew. He said another employee is “under ongoing investigation.” Commissioner Jimmy Strube said at least for the time being, there is no plan to replace Trevino, mentioning that paving has lessened the need for workers. He said some road crew personnel would be reassigned.
Bednar reported that the Glasscock County Historical Committee (Helen Wilkerson chair, Mary Jo Cope and Alan Dierschke) recently met with a stonemason and with Brenda Edwards of TexaStone Quarries regarding the veterans’ memorial, which is to be constructed on the northwest corner of the courthouse property. Bednar said he will check on getting electricity to the location so that flags can be lighted and flown day and night.
Several local high school students attended a portion of the commissioners’ court meeting and then toured the courthouse as part of their course work. The judge and commissioners described for the students their duties in county government, how counties are divided into precincts, how one runs for political office, who is eligible to sit on juries, and the importance of registering to vote, among other things.