Air ambulance contract approved

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County commissioners approved this year’s commitment to fund the county-wide contract with AirMedCare and awarded bids for fuel and mowing at their regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 20.

They also decided to leave the burn ban in place, taking no action because the current ban doesn’t expire until the end of the month. They will review weather conditions again when they meet in special session on Sept. 30, when the county’s  fiscal year ends.

Air Ambulance

The membership agreement with AirMedCare, the air ambulance network that serves Shackelford County, was ratified at an cost of $12,000 to the county.

The total annual cost of $24,000 is split with the Shackelford County Hospital District, giving every citizen who lives within the county lines “insurance” to be flown by the company in the event of an emergency.

Although there have been only two county residents air-flighted in the past year, the commissioners agreed that the coverage is worth the money.

“I haven’t heard anything but ‘thank you’ since we started doing this,” said commissioner Lanham Martin.

Bid Awards

Lion Fuels submitted the only bid for the county’s fuel needs, and Texas Grass Shall Grow was the sole bidder for lawn care at both the Courthouse and two rural cemeteries.

The one-year contracts were unanimously approved in separate motions.

Copier Contract

Commissioners finalized a maintenance agreement from All Copy, which is about half what is currently being paid for maintenance, and also accepted the lease payoff offer from All Copy in the amount of $17,684, which will pay off the current copier lease and maintenance agreement with Hilliard.

Skelton will send a letter to Hilliard to give written notice to cancel the maintenance agreement, with plans to keep paying the monthly fee from All Copy’s payoff offer should Hilliard enforce a cancellation fee.

The new copiers at the Courthouse, JP office, and Law Enforcement Center are already installed and operational.