Forest County commissioners on Wednesday approved paying for the match on the two ambulances the county ordered in December 2021 that are expected to arrive soon in the county.
The panel approved paying for the ambulances with $250,278.92 from the county’s American Rescue Plan funds as the match to the ARC grant the county received to pay the other half of the cost of the ambulances.
Commissioner Bob Snyder said the ambulance for the Tionesta side of the county will be delivered at the end of this month, probably around April 20.
He added that neither one has a back bumper yet so the ambulance for the Marienville side of the county will remain in Union City until the bumper comes in but the one for Tionesta will be delivered and used, then taken back to Union City to have the back bumper installed when the bumper comes in.
The county ordered an ambulance for each side of the county, and they were originally scheduled to arrive at the end of 2022.
Grant requirements say the county must maintain ownership of the ambulances.
The county provided the required 50% match to the grant out of the American Recovery Program money it received from the federal government.
In another matter at Wednesday’s meeting, Robin Corapi was appointed as the county’s community and economic development coordinator, effective April 2.
Corapi had been the interim coordinator since October 2021 when the previous director, Bailey Thompson, who had been director for only a few months, resigned.