County sees no conflict having supervisor on ambulance committee

WASHINGTON - The Washington County Board of Supervisors see no conflict with having a member, and owner of the county's current ambulance service, sit on a committee to discuss the future of the ambulance services within the county.

On Monday, Nov. 4, the supervisors discussed whether having Supervisor Richard Young, the owner of Washington County Ambulance Inc., serve on a committee discussing the future of ambulance service in the county is a conflict of interest.

The supervisors unanimously agreed that there is no conflict of interest having Young serve on the committee as the group will be studying what to do with the service once the one-year contract extension Young has with the county expires June 30, 2020, so discussions do not impact Young's firm's existing contract. Young has also stated previously that he will be retiring June 30, 2020, and will not be interested in bidding to be considered as an ambulance service provider should the county seek firms to bid for the business.

Young said that due to some talk he has heard around town, he will not only pledge to retire, he will refuse to sell the county any of his current ambulances or any other equipment associated with his business to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest. He said if the county desires to lease the building his company owns, he would consider leasing it. He also advised the supervisors that if the county is to get into the ambulance business, it should hire a director by the first of the year.

Supervisor Jack Seward Jr., said 'If we're going to plan for a new service, Richard is an expert. That's why he's involved.” Seward pointed to Young's 30 years of experience in the ambulance business and underscored the point that he would not benefit financially by helping to plan for a future service. Supervisor Miller agreed adding 'We would be foolish not to include Richard.”

In other business, County Engineer Jacob Thorius delivered a report on the activity of his department in the months of July through September. During that period, county crews hauled 2,790 tons of shoulder rock and 31,067 tons of road rock for a total of 33,857 tons. The county is continuing to deal with frost boil conditions from last winter. Thorius' department also cleaned ditches and built up roads in numerous locations, cold patched paved road, cut brush throughout the county and mowed the shoulders of paved and gravel roads, removed trees downed by storms in July and August and has been working on five construction projects. Crews have also begun storing salt for the impending winter weather. Thorius said that during the quarter, all the work accomplished was done with an average of four of his 31 staff members absent due to illnesses or vacations. 'My staff remains dedicated to their jobs and they want to do what they can to improve the roads,” he said.

The usual Tuesday meeting was held one day prior, due to Tuesday being Election Day.