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Show By GARY R. BLODGETT FARMINGTON - Anyone in the market for two nearly-new nearly-new ambulances, both in excellent ex-cellent condition? THE TWO ambulances which have served north Davis County for the past two years are being offered for sale or lease to the highest bidder. Davis County commissioners commis-sioners unanimously agreed last Thursday that the county-owned and operated ambulances should be turned over to private enterprise. THE TWO ambulances have been operated for the past two years under the aus pices of the Davis County Health Department -making the department probably the only county health department in the country in the ambulance business, according to Dr. Richard E. Johns, county health director. Sealed bids will be accepted by the county commission until 5 p.m. on Dec. 10. Bids will be opened the following day at 2 p.m. during regular commission meeting. MEANWHILE, interested persons may inspect the ambulances am-bulances and all the equipment equip-ment that will be included in the sale or lease. Included in the sale or lease will be two 1977 Superior-model am bulances with Chevrolet chassis. Also featured are two 8-channel 8-channel Motorola radios with front and rear control heads, one Motorola HT-220 Handi-Talkie Handi-Talkie FM 4-channel radio and charger, four training mannikins, and other miscellaneous mis-cellaneous equipment. SOME $30,000 in accounts receivable will also go with the deal, according to commissioners. com-missioners. Further information about equipment included in the sale or lease may be obtained from the Davis County Health Department, Room 24, Davis County Courthouse, Farming-ton, Farming-ton, or by calling the courthouse, Ext. 310. DR. JOHNS and the commission com-mission agreed, however, that any individuals or agencies agen-cies wishing to submit bids must be of such knowledge and experience as to continue a high standard of emergency service now existing in the North Davis Ambulance operating area. The Davis County Commission Commis-sion reserves the right to reject any or all bids. COMMISSION Chairman Glen W. Flint explained that under a present contract, the county is not able to sell the ambulances until they have 70,000 miles. "This will probably take PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 2 Want A Fast Job? Buy An Ambulance Davis To Sell Two Continued From Front about a year," he said. "Therefore, the ambulances may be leased for a period and -then purchased at the appropriate time." DR.JOHNS told the commission com-mission that the county is expected ex-pected to operate the ambulance am-bulance service about $20,000; in the red this year, but he. emphasized that the service should be a "profit-making venture." He explained that Davis County charges an initial $70 fee plus $2 per mile. "THIS COULD be legally increased to a maximum of $83 for each initial call plus $3 per mile," said Dr. Johns. "At this rate, the business should very well operate with a profit." Commissioners emphasized that the party leasing or buying buy-ing the ambulance service "must maintain a high quality of service that north Davis County residents accustomed ac-customed to." COMMISSIONER Morris F. Swapp said, "The county-operated county-operated ambulances have provided a fantastic service, but it's time that private enterprise en-terprise take over if they can provide similar service." Commissioner Flint emphasized that the county is "not dumping" the ambulance am-bulance service. "We are simply allowing private enterprise en-terprise to do the same job that the countv has been do ing for the past two years. " THE AMBULANCE service was started in north Davis County, operating out of Davis North Medical Center, Layton,. nearly two years ago to fill a void created when a private firm from Ogden began having financial problems. A similar ambulance service ser-vice was started a short time later in south Davis County. THE NORTH Davis County ambulances are operated under the guidance of a county Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Council which will continue to oversee the operation of the new service "to make certain quality service ser-vice is maintained." |
