The Lewis County Board of Commissioners met in regular session, Monday night, June 19, 2023. All nine commissioners were present.

Minutes from the May 15th regular meeting and May 22nd special called meeting were approved by all.

No citizens brought anything before the board during public input.

During the Report of the committee of the whole, Brian Peery respectfully asked that approval of the minutes be delayed until June 29th. All approved, as the meetings were lengthy, and more time was needed to assemble.

Continuing with the agenda, the next item was to authorize the County Mayor to enter into an ambulance service contract. “On Friday, June 16th,” Mayor Jonah Keltner said, “proposals were opened from three ambulance services to provide ambulance service to Lewis County for the next five years.” Representatives from Maury and First Call were both present and available for discussion.

Overall locked-in subsidy costs for each for the next five years were as follows:

- Maury Regional:

$2,486,530

- First Call:

$2,625,000

-Lifeguard:

$4,375,000

During the discussion, Commissioner Larry Pigg noted, “I don’t want to risk going to another ambulance service and Maury Regional then tell us they’re not going to help us anymore. I prefer we stay with what we’ve got.”

Mayor Keltner informed, “The Maury bid is $138,470 cheaper. Also, we’re going to save approximately $100,000 by not having to build an ambulance bay, if we go with Maury. Although, we will still need to buy the housing unit in which they will use to sleep.” Keltner has consulted with local home manufacturer, Happy Homes, to discuss the building of a modular or manufactured home. He plans to visit the business within the next week, and look at some examples of units with the hopes of getting bids and presenting those to the commission next month.

“Our job,” noted Commissioner Kyle Bobo, “has been to follow up on the references with all companies. We have a current existing relationship with Maury with which our constituents can tell us their experience. With First Call and Lifeguard, we have to assess from the outside with who they service today. Again, as the mayor stated, it is $138,000 cheaper, and it is a weighing factor to consider.”

Aren Ragsdale agreed, “We do have to go by what our constituents think. Overwhelmingly, the ones that have reached out to me have asked us to stay with Maury. While there are pros and cons of each, we are ultimately the voice of Lewis County, and I am voting the way my district is requesting me to.”

“We listen to the people, of course,” said Commissioner Bradley Loveless, “but we’re also looking out for the money of the county. Maury Regional’s cost proposes an increase in cost each year, whereas First Call’s proposed yearly costs stay at $525,000 a year, consistently.”

Commissioner Caleb Feichtinger spoke up, “I think a lot of these numbers are probably well over the numbers we originally expected. 400%, even. We’ve taken two separate bids and negotiated as well, and I’m to the point that my mind is made up on this, and it is strictly due to the numbers presented before us.”

The discussion was then had regarding the ambulance bay and housing unit. Verbally, the 911 Board has said the housing unit could be kept there, on Commerce Street off Summertown Highway. “In five years, when the contract is up, and we’re back at the table with proposals, figuring out ambulance bay and housing, I’d be more comfortable having it sitting on our land in our name,” said Commissioner Ragsdale.

Ragsdale made a motion to accept the bid of Maury Regional to include the terms that both housing and bay be owned by the County and moved to County land. Commissioner Pigg seconded. The resolution to enter into a contract with Maury Regional to provide Ambulance Service to Lewis County passed by one vote with Ragsdale, Pigg, Peery, Hinson and Carroll voting yes, Loveless and Dyer voting no, and Feichtinger and Bobo abstaining.

Look for the second half of the commission meeting in next week’s edition.