Trending
PARKERSBURG - The Wood County Commission is looking at options in what can be done regarding a $1.7 million request from the WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center to help fund emergency ambulance service for the area.
Commissioners discussed some different options during Thursday's meeting.
Camden Clark Chief Executive Officer Sean Smith, Camden Clark Chief Financial Officer Kyle Pierson and Camden Clark Ambulance Director Shawn Marshall appeared before the Wood County Commission Monday and said traditional reimbursement for ambulance service is not sufficient to cover the cost.
The medical center is asking the county to provide the $1.7 million subsidy to support operational losses from the emergency medical service caused by low reimbursement rates, expense inflation and stand-by costs associated with the service, Camden Clark officials said.
"When 911 gets a call, someone has to be there and we have to have someone robust enough to go and meet the demand," Commission President Blair Couch said.
Since March 2025, Camden Clark has been handling all emergency medical calls in the area since St. Joseph's Ambulance ceased operations. Camden Clark hired a number of people from St. Joseph's Ambulance to fill positions to help cover the area and the county provided financial support so Camden Clark could purchase a number of ambulances operated by St. Joseph's Ambulance to be used for the expanded coverage.
Commissioner Jimmy Colombo requested that Sheriff Rick Woodyard provide a breakdown of how maintenance is handled and the costs with the Wood County Sheriff's Department and its fleet of around 50 vehicles. During the meeting Monday, Camden Clark officials say they maintain a fleet of around 22 vehicles but take them to a local dealership to be serviced under an agreement.
According to financial information provided by the hospital, they pay over $818,000 for maintenance and repairs which officials were told also included gas costs. There is also an expense for $392,306 for professional services which commissioners questioned if that included the cost for the mechanics to work on the hospital vehicles. County officials have requested a breakdown of that cost so they can compare it to the sheriff's department once Woodyard get them the numbers..
County officials wondered if money could be saved if the medical center would have their own mechanic like the sheriff's department does.
Woodyard said their mechanic works on 2-3 vehicles a day, on average. He also touted they have a good preventative maintenance schedule.
"We always have something," the sheriff said.
Officials questioned if medical transports are factored into those expenses as well. They also asked what kind of reimbursement they are receiving from insurance companies for service.
Couch said the county has not gotten any significant complaints about the service Camden Clark is providing.
The commission is looking at the possibility of putting an ambulance levy on the November ballot or a upto 1 percent sales tax countywide on the ballot that voters will vote on.
The sales tax could also be used to help fund ambulance service as well as the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, local law-enforcement, the Wood County 911 Center and more. Although, local volunteer fire departments did not want to lose the money they receive from the countywide fire fee, Couch said he believed the sales tax would supply more money than what the departments are bringing in now.
Commissioners have considered eliminating the fire fee if the proposed sales tax would bring in more money for the departments.
Couch said they would get push back from people who feel their taxes were going up.
Woodyard said people want an emergency medical service in place.
"I think where you shine is people know, understand and want an ambulance service," he said adding he felt the majority of people would support it.
Wood County Clerk Joe Gonzales said any documentation to put something on the ballot has to be in by Aug. 18 and approved by the county commission by Aug. 24
"That is rapidly approaching," Commissioner Jim Hamric said.
Couch said they have a local attorney who might be able to draw up what the wording would look like. If that person couldn't do it there are attorneys in Charleston they can go to.
Another option would be the commission has the ability to create an ambulance fee, much like the fire fee where they would just need the approval of the three commissioners, Couch said.
County officials are also looking at costs of what it would take to implement an ambulance service, in the event something can't be worked out. They said they will be talking to other counties to see how there systems are set up.
"It is all about public safety," Couch said. "We need robust public safety in Wood County and that is what these discussions are about."
Officials will be discussing all of the options more next week when Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure and County Administrator Marty Seufer are able to attend.
"I think the word here is transparency," Woodyard said. "I think if you tell people this is what it is for and that the county is funding A,B and C, but not E and F and let them know what it will be for, I think you will have a lot of people behind you."