Published: May 15, 2008 09:41 am            

MESTA sells Langley station

The Mayes Emergency Services Board of Trustees (MESTA) board approved purchasing a new ambulance and selling the old station in Langley during the meeting Tuesday.

The board approved the low bid of $70,207 for a Sterling ambulance from Guardian Emergency Vehicles. The board approved adding an extended warranty for $1,800. The warranty would cover the ambulance for 150,000 miles.

After discussing whether the only bid received for the Langley station was acceptable, the board voted to sell the building for $60,000 to Jack Kidwell. Chairman Murray Underwood said he’d have liked to see the board get $68,000 from the building, but considering the disrepair of the building and property prices in the southern portion of Langley, he said $60,000 is a “fair bid.”

When one trustee asked whether the board could sell the building through a realtor like the Chouteau station, Director Rick Langkamp said “I don’t want to see another building fall down.”

Without anyone using the Chouteau station, the building is deteriorating and losing value. The board voted to not go out for another bid and accepted the bid from Kidwell to sell the station.

Board member Brent Crittenden was the only member voting no.

In the director’s report, Langkamp reported MESTA ended April in the red due to a three payroll month. Sales taxes were $75,008.53, but only $73,976.42 was collected because of the end to the fiscal year. The accounts will be reconciled in July after the beginning of the new county budget year.

Langkamp reported the new 911 center building was awarded to Sooner Builders. The construction should start by the end of the week. The location of the building was moved to the east side of the MESTA building at GRDA’s recommendation. The west side would have put the building under high lines, which GRDA did not recommend.

Langkamp said a fourth ambulance will be put in service during the summer months. The unit will be in service from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will assist with additional summer call volume and special events.

Langkamp asked the board to consider scheduling a special meeting to discuss purchasing a smaller unit to be used at events like rodeos and concerts over the summer. Underwood wanted to look into the model of ambulance Langkamp was talking about before proceeding.

Langkamp reported the MESTA building was being painted using county correctional facility inmates at a lower cost to MESTA.

MESTA responded to 315 runs in April. Total operating revenue was $172,929.50. With operating expenses at $177,629.077 and other income at $1,219.84, MESTA had $3,479.73 in expenditures over revenue in April.

During citizen’s comments, Jane Standeford thanked the board for the professionalism of medics when responding to a call for her husband, board member M.L. Standeford. She said her husband attempted to change his mind about going to the hospital, but the paramedic and EMT on duty convinced him to go. “I want to thank them for doing their job properly,” said Standeford.

“They’re pretty good at what they do,” agreed Langkamp.

        

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