Fiscal Court to purchase new van for coroner’s office as AMR stops autopsy transport services

September 11, 2020 | 12:09 am

Updated September 10, 2020 | 8:46 pm

Graphic by Owensboro Times

Daviess County Fiscal Court approved a bid last week for a $32,000 cargo van to be used for autopsy transport by the Daviess County Coroner’s Office. The bid was approved in light of AMR Ambulance announcing they would no longer be providing transport services for autopsies due to other staffing obligations. 

“AMR reasoned that because they were required to keep a certain amount of staff available in the County to meet their contractual obligations that this transport service was no longer feasible for them,” said Assistant County Treasurer Jordan Johnson. 

After reviewing neighboring operations, it was discovered that Daviess County was the only coroner’s office in the state that continued to use ambulance personnel for transportation related to autopsies. 

Further analysis determined it would be more cost-effective to provide the services internally, Johnson said. 

Three bids were received for a van, ranging from $25,935 to $31,966. Johnson recommended Fiscal Court approve the highest bid for a 2020 CrossRoads Ford Transit Medium Roof Unit. 

“You will notice it is the highest of the three bids we received,” Johnson said. “However, it is the only unit that is immediately available. The other two units would have to be placed in the order bank of the vendor and would likely arrive sometime early in the next calendar year. In addition to this, the lowest bid has exceptions to our specifications that could become problematic for our intended use.” 

With time being of the essence, Johnson said he believed choosing the highest bid was justified “especially given that the order banks have had multiple delays due to COVID-19 effects on the manufacturers.”

September 11, 2020 | 12:09 am

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