News Photo by Julie Goldberg Alcona County EMS Director Scott Rice shows the Alcona County Board of Commissioners the county’s new EMS Ambulance on Wednesday.

HARRISVILLE — The Alcona County Board of Commissioners saw the county’s new EMS ambulance during its meeting Wednesday.

Scott Rice, Alcona County EMS director, said the price of the ambulance, as is, was $148,000. A power lift and cot cost an additional $42,000, so the total cost was $190,000.

“We still have the loose equipment and cardiac monitor to put in and we have that all in stock,” Rice said. “We also have to put our radios and other equipment in the truck.”

Rice said the county selected a vendor and truck that it wanted and liked what it offered.

“Basically, it’s a stocked truck so it’s an everyday truck that comes off the line,” he said. “The truck we got was what they had to offer and it’s a gas truck.”

Rice said the truck originally was available in November, but because of the budget and other things, the county had to wait until after January to purchase it.

“This truck is an Osage Ambulance and that’s who manufactures the box for the truck,” he said. “It has a Chevy chassis engine frame underneath it.”

Rice said the power cot and the loading system have a seven-year warranty and the truck has the normal General Motors 36,000 mile warranty.

“I think the paint on the box has a seven-year warranty along with the electrical box,” Rice said. “They stand behind their stuff and they just don’t sell it to you.”

Alcona County has had the power lifts available for use in its ambulances since 2008.

“This is nothing new to us that we got,” Rice said. “Our goal is to have the ambulance ready for the road on Friday.”

Chairman Craig Johnston said getting a new ambulance is great for the county.

“It’s our second one in six months,” Johnston said. “Our old ones had reached their limits on miles and repairs and we’re now trying to get on a replacement schedule for the next several years.”

Johnston said there is a certain amount of mileage now that the county wants to go to for its ambulances.

“It’s good and it’s a great service for our people,” he said. “We need reliable transportation, especially in our rural area and getting to the hospital and back in one piece.”

Julie Goldberg can be reached via email at jgoldberg@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5688.