Pickens County citizen speaks to Commission in concern for the ambulance service

By Felicity Holman
Staff Writer

CARROLLTON- The Pickens County Board of Commissioners meeting took place on July 12, 2022. Chairman Jerry Fitch called the meeting to order.

The meeting opened with a public comment from Edgar Calloway concerning the Pickens County Ambulance Service.

“This is an update and to get some advice on where we can go. Yesterday we met with four of the five mayors in Pickens County and dis- cussed the situation of the ambulance service. COVID was so out there that we had no idea where we would be with the financial situation. We finally have accurate financial statements for 2021. The service here in Pickens County lost right at $250,000 last year. It costs us about $100 per hour to operate, and we put at 36 hours a day which generates about $400 on average per transport. Our goal is to deploy 36 hours a day. We would have a 24-hour truck, a 12-hour truck, and then we would try to be on call for nights. We’re in a position where we have to make some adjustments because no business can lose a quarter of a million dollars a year and do that for an extended period.” Said Calloway.