County Officials Approve Funding for EMS Transfer Unit

Posted on February 22, 2019
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

The Starke County Council members approved Rainy Day Funds to clear up a fund in the red and for equipment for a transfer unit at Starke Hospital.

Starke County Council President Dave Pearman explained that the purchase of the new ambulance put the Cumulative Capital Development fund in the red by $9,575.  Pearman proposed taking money out of the Rainy Day Fund to clear up that issue.

Further, Commissioner Kathy Norem said once the new ambulance arrives in the first part of March, a current ambulance in the fleet will be used as the primary transfer unit at Starke Hospital.  It will need to be outfitted to accommodate state regulations.  All of those items total $57,000.

She proposed using Rainy Day Funds to pay for those needs as well.

The county council did approve both measures totaling $67,114.24 from the Rainy Day Fund.  Pearman commented that hopefully that money could be put back into that fund from revenues generated from the transfer unit.  The balance of the Rainy Day fund as of Monday evening was $1.46 million.

It’s anticipated that the transfer unit won’t be operational until the first part of April.