The Gray County Commissioners Court met on Tuesday morning for a regularly-scheduled meeting.
During the meeting, the Commissioners approved the purchase of an ambulance for Gray County EMS through the use of the ARPA (America Rescue Plan Act).
Hemphill County Hospital Chief Administrative Officer, Rich Henkel, addressed the Commissioners and said while the entity has experienced the same issues as most medical professionals since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have been able to add a cruiser and ventilators. But one of the biggest impacts has been handling the transfer of patients to various hospitals.
“Trying to get patients moved from one hospital to another during Covid has been a challenge,” Henkel said. “If they do get people moved, we’re taking them longer and further away than we normally do.
“Instead of moving someone to Amarillo, dropping them off there and turning back in a couple of hours. We’re taking them to Albuquerque, N.M., we’ve gone to Odessa multiple times, we’ve gone to Dallas or taken people as far as they need to go. In some cases, it’s based on oxygen demand and patient presentation. Sometimes they have to fly.”
The hospital district has spent some Covid-related grant funds on additional supplies like the aforementioned supervisor vehicle and other supplies, but the wear and tear is adding up on the ambulances.
“Because we are taking people a lot farther than we anticipated, we are putting a lot of miles on our vehicles and didn’t anticipate replacing vehicles as often as we have been,” Henkel said. “I think one of the things we would like to try and do, and it would serve a dual-purpose, to try and replace one of our older ambulances and instead of getting rid of it, keep it stocked with all of the equipment so we would gain an extra disaster ambulance.”
Henkel noted that during the initial switch from Pampa EMS to Gray County EMS, there was a disaster ambulance negotiated into that inter-local agreement.
The cost is about $200,000, which Gray County/Hemphill County EMS would contribute half of the cost. If the City of Pampa is on board as well, they would split the County’s $100,000 and make it an even $50,000 split between the City and the County.
County Judge Chris Porter asked for clarification that this is not a yearly request, ala like the previous agreement with Pampa EMS.
“When we originally made this inter-local agreement, I think the Commissioners Court and the City Commission felt like the $240,000 to Pampa EMS was not being used correctly or could have been done better,” Porter said. “The fact is we didn’t want to have to give moneys every year because y’all should be making a profit. This is not a request to replace an ambulance, it’s a request to add an ambulance in a spare capacity for times of need, which would be extreme disasters.”
The Commissioners discussed and ensured there would be no change to the current method of operations and the Commissioners approved the item, contingent on the inter-local agreement with Hemphill County EMS being renewed as expected in October. The ambulance would be in operation in the nine to 12 months.
The Commissioners also discussed a request for ARPA funds from the Pampa VFW Post 1657 for building repairs.
The repairs needed include the replacement of stucco on the north wall, repainting of the south side of the building and the addressing of brick work. The bid on this project is $47,812.
There is also an issue with the VFW’s restroom facilities, which totals $37,200. The original remodel of the bathroom when the building was acquired by the Post don’t adhere to ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and the particle board used has absorbed the smells from over the years.
Commissioner Jeff Haley asked if there is any knowledge of the financial situation of the VFW.
“I have had in-depth conversations with [VFW Commander John] Tripplehorn about that,” Porter said. “At this time, they are being reimbursed $22,000 on the last illegal gambling facility charge that they had and those machines are being released to the City of Pampa for destruction or auction.
“Their last case we had with the VFW since Commander (Danny) Martin died, his last two cases were dismissed because of that and there were two cases left unresolved and were resolved by plea agreement. So they are about to get $22,000 that was confiscated through the investigation and seizure.
“They are really needing that and were relying on that for a while because they are current in their bills but are unable to really do anything because they are just barely keeping their heads above water.”
As for membership, Porter said that while efforts by Tripplehorn has been diligent in trying to increase membership and file for grants, there are only so many residents in Gray County that have fought in foreign wars and that number will continue to dwindle.
Porter added there is an anticipation that the VFW will come to the County and City Commissions in hopes of being exempt from the game room ordinances.
“In our last paragraph of our regulations, upon verbal testimony and written request could ignore the regulations put in place for a 501(c)(3) or charity organization,” Porter said. “That was put in there because at one point in time the VFW was taking in $1.3 million/year. That’s public record, and when I was city commissioner I researched that.
“A substantial amount of that was going to people for paying bills, utilities and not just veterans. They had regular people who would come in and try to get their water bill paid for two or three months. They would end up doing that and people would come in and re-donate back to the VFW. There was a good system of community service being offered.
“The problem is at some point in time, the Commander was not as diligent as he should have been and his command structure was not as diligent as they should have been on regulating illegal activity inside of that organization, specifically in the game room.”
Porter said Tripplehorn has assured him that the intention is to hire off-duty law enforcement for when the games are operating should the room re-open. But the problem is the distancing requirements in place through the City of Pampa.
That being said, Porter said the ARPA funds may be the only way the VFW is able to repair their building.
“I’d hate to see our VFW go away,” Porter said. “It’s like our senior citizen centers. Which is why I wanted our commissioners court to increase the amount of money we give to [senior citizen centers], those are not just entities spending money. It’s a regular check-up for a lot of our senior citizens. The VFW is a tight-knit group.”
Haley said he had some questions but didn’t feel like he would get them without talking to the VFW.
“So if we repair their building, but with their declining numbers they are probably not going to be a viable entity without their gambling,” Haley said. “I’m making that assumption. Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s what it seems. So if the City doesn’t grant them an exemption to have it there, then we are repairing a building they can’t do anything with.”
Commissioner Logan Hudson said they could possibly find another building for the cost of their repairs, but regardless the VFW would have to wait until the County gets their second round of ARPA funds, which Porter said is understood by Tripplehorn.
Haley added if they did approve the re-opening of the game room, he would want extra measures put in place to ensure there wasn’t any illegal gambling going on.
The Commissioners didn’t take any action on the item as they would like to speak with the VFW.
The following items were approved:
• Minutes of the previous meetings, Dec. 31, 2021 and Jan. 14, 2022.
• Pay Bills as Approved by the County Auditor.
• Request from the Tax Assessor/Collector to Remove Amy Winkler and Add Lindsey Lawyer to All Accounts
• Road Crossing Policy Changes for Gray County
•Sale of Real Property Known as the Precinct 4 Fuel Depot
• Racial Profiling Report from Precinct 2 Constable
• Replacement of Employee in JP Pet 2 and 4 Office
• CLE’s for the County Clerk
• CLE’s For the District Clerk
• District Clerk Copy Machine Lease
• Extending COVID 19 Emergency Declaration for 30 days
