Court approves creation of fourth Lavaca County EMS crew
The Lavaca County Commissioners’ Court met in a regular meeting Monday morning and approved the creation of a fourth Lavaca County EMS crew.
Lavaca County EMS director Michael Furrh spoke to the court regarding the need for adding fourth crew.
Furrh spoke about the current staff has three crews and when all three are called out at the same time due to answering emergency calls or transferring a patient, it causes what is known as status zero.
“Status zero occurs when there are no ambulances available to respond to an emergency,” Furrh said. “It just depends where we’re at and how long all the ambulances are answering to a call. Status zero can last 3 minutes, 30 minutes or an hour.”
Furrh said studies show a rise of inter-facility transfers as well as additional 911 emergency calls.”
“Inter-facility transfers is projected to increase 150-225 compared to 2024 and 911 calls are also expected to increase 200-300,” Furrh said. “The challenge is not the amount of calls, but the time it takes on those calls.”
Furrh mentioned that neighboring emergency services (Yoakum EMS as well as Gonzales, Colorado and Fayette County EMS) assist the Lavaca County EMS service.
“We do work very well with our neighbors in mutual aid response. We’re very, very appreciative to them,” Furrh said. “We also return the favor to them on a weekly basis as well.”
Regarding the cost for adding the fourth crew, Furrh said to implement this project for the remainder of the fiscal year it would be about $220 thousand. It would include the hiring of three paramedics and three EMTs and also include the salaries, benefits, insurance and payroll taxes.
“We (Lavaca County EMS) does not need equipment. We do have the equipment,” Furrh said. “What we don’t have is the people.”
The court voted to fund the project that would involve transferring the funds from the general fund to fund 121.
Advertisements
The court approved advertising for bids for concrete and labor projects on Lavaca County roads.
The bids are due in the county auditor’s office by 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14. They will be opened at 10:45 in the Commissioners’ Courtroom and discussed, and/ or awarded at the Commissioners’ Court meeting on Tuesday, May 27.
The court also approved advertising for bids to replace the boiler for the Lavaca County Courthouse.
The bids are due in the county auditor’s office by 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14. They will be opened at 10:45 in the Commissioners’ Courtroom and discussed, and/or awarded at the Commissioners’ Court meeting on Tuesday, May 27.
Retirement
Carol Rogers was acknowledged for her retirement from the Lavaca County Tax Assessor-Collector’s office after 12 years of dedicated service.
In recognizing Rogers, county tax assessor-collector, Deborah Sevcik, said, “She has been a tremendous asset to our office. She’s done her job diligently and has a great work ethic. I’m so proud of her – we’re going to miss her greatly.”
Also, during the meeting the court acknowledged the hiring of Miranda Shimek Ramirez as Deputy Clerk for the county tax assessor-collector’s office with a starting date of May 5.
Miscellaneous
The court accepted a reimbursement for repairs to damaged county roads from Kinder Morgan to Pct. 2 in the amount of $234 thousand.
The court approved the realignment of the Lavaca County Volunteer Fire Departments’ coverage map to include the new fire district for the Ezzell Volunteer Fire Department.
The court approved the elections office remodel project at the Annex building.
In other action taken by the court:
• Heard a Lavaca County EMS update presented by Chief Michael Furrh.
• Reopened CR 340 for overweight oil field traffic.
• Approved the disposition of real property formerly known as CR 391 consisting of a .22 acre tract of land in Sweet Home.
• Awarded a contract between Lone Star Commissary and the Lavaca County jail.
• Approved the Lavaca County 2024 annual financial report presented by Wade Whitlow with KM&L Certified Public Accountants.
• Approved a bond for Rachael Barber, investigator with the Lavaca County attorney’s office.
• Approved an internet contract between AT&T and the county.
• Approved a certificate of exemption from subdivision requirements for Gilbert Henneke.
• Tabled the Reinger Family Living trust subdivision, including their subdivision private road use agreement.
• Approved consent agenda items.
County judge Keith Mudd presided over the meeting with commissioners Edward Pustka, Wayne Faircloth, Kenny Siegel and Dennis W. Kocian present for the meeting.