SCWEMS to apply for SLIB grant

The South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Service (SCWEMS) Joint Powers Board (JPB) voted to seek a State Lands and Investments Board (SLIB) grant for three new ambulances at its Aug. 27 meeting in Medicine Bow.

SCWEMS would provide $150,000, or 26.6 percent, toward the estimated $525,000 needed for the ambulances. They will be asking SLIB for $375,000 from a Mineral Royalty Grant.

This is a funding source SCWEMS has used in the past to buy equipment. According to Bill Dahlke, if the grant is not awarded it will be at least one year before SCWEMS will have the opportunity to purchase new ambulances.

In order to have the matching funds available, SCWEMS will move $150,000 from their Wyo-Star investment account into the ambulance purchase budget.

Wyo-Star is an investment fund managed by the state treasurer for counties, municipalities, school districts, and other local government entities.

Other matters approved at the meeting were using the Crank Legal Group, P.C. for legal representation and the finalization of the lease agreement for the Saratoga ambulance house.

Crank Legal group is a Cheyenne-based law firm which provides services for local governments, medical and hospital legal issues, and professional malpractice, among others.

The finalization of the lease agreement between the town of Saratoga and SCWEMS paves the way for SCWEMS to exercise their right to purchase the ambulance garage and property.