The Gray County Commissioners discuss amending a proposed contract with Hemphill County EMS on Friday morning during a regularly-scheduled meeting.
The proposed contract, which includes a $50,000 match for a new ambulance, and is for three years through Sept. 30, 2025.
But Commissioners discussed adding an amendment in it concerning the transportation from the jail to medical facilities.
“I’m under the understanding that most jails are offered free transport from all other ambulance services in other counties,” County Judge Chris Porter said. “If an inmate goes down, or you have a fight in the jail, and the ambulance rolls up, there is no charge to the county for that because these ambulances are working under the permission of the county. That’s something that I would like to see added into this contract.”
It was noted that Hemphill County isn’t the only ambulance service that has charged Gray County for jail transport, historically speaking.
Porter added he is not referring to the exhaustion of equipment and supplies used during an incident. He is solely referring to the transportation.
The question was asked if Hemphill County is charged by the ambulance service for transport and that answer was unknown.
“We need to find out if they are charging their own county,” Commissioner Jeff Haley said. “If they are charging their own county, we won’t get that consideration (of no charge to Gray County). But we also need to poll the other counties, as well.”
Commissioner Logan Hudson said it’s been his experience that the “ambulance service services the County pro bono.” The Commissioners Court Hutchinson, Ochiltree and Moore County are all serviced through their ambulance services without charge.
The Commissioners Court is appreciative for the service and the relationship Hemphill County EMS and the County have shared the past few years.
“I can still remember what kind of service we had before,” Haley said. “So, I’m pretty grateful.”
The item was tabled so the commissioners could gather more information.
The Commissioners also had John Luna, with Crown and Sterling, who is contracted to provide jail phone and commissary services for the County through the end of June, present in the meeting. Luna had come to introduce himself to the Commissioners and make himself available to discuss a new contract. The Commissioners previously had CTC Commissary present a contract to the County for the same services.
The Commissioner then adjourned for executive session to discuss pending litigation matters.
The Commissioners approved the following items:
• Pay Bills as Approved by the County Auditor
• Consider Contract with Resound for Broadband Tower Project Using Gray County ARPA Funds. The Commissioners did note they will need post-construction inspections and confirmation the project is completed for the purpose of government requirements.
• Declare Gray County’s ARPA Fund Allocation as the Standard Allowance for Revenue Loss.
• Replacing Employee in the District Clerk’s Office.
• Pipeline Crossing Request for Water Line Located West of County Road S and County Road 22 Intersection.
• Accepting Tax Bids for properties.
The next meeting will be on Friday, April 15.
