BY CRYSTAL VANDEGRIFT AND TITUS MOHLER 

Following a closed session of the Farmville Town Council on Wednesday, July 10, the council has agreed to waive the water, sewer and sanitation fee on the Prince Edward Volunteer Rescue Squad (PEVRS) building and to provide as much as $50,000 for parts and service to maintain the vehicles for the rescue squad for the fiscal year 2019-20.

Also, the Town of Farmville, Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College agreed during a joint meeting Tuesday, July 9, to each contribute $30,000 for a one-year commitment to fund the position of an executive director for PEVRS.

In addition to funding an executive director, at the cost of $100,000, PEVRS was also looking to purchase a new ambulance at the price of $250,000.

The Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors took action July 9 during its regular meeting to provide funds for the new ambulance.

As cited in a July 10 county press release, the board voted to authorize PEVRS to immediately purchase a new ambulance, with the county set to provide immediate funding for half of the $250,000 total cost of the ambulance and the balance upon delivery.

PEVRS Treasurer Carol Broadwater noted that the decision to purchase an ambulance needed to happen by July 18, and she explained why. First, she said the rescue squad has purchased all but one of its vehicles through Goodman Truck & Tractor Co. Inc. in Amelia County.

Second, she added that Goodman “had some stock units coming in, and the one that was going to work for us, they gave us a quote on it on June 18, I believe it was, and we had until July 18 to make a decision, and that’s why we were pushed for the timetable …”

The Board of Supervisors also voted 7-1 during its regular meeting to approve a motion authorizing the advertisement of two public hearings set for Aug. 13: One will concern establishing an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) District, which would encompass all of Prince Edward County; the other public hearing will concern establishing a tax levy for this EMS District of 1 cent for real estate and 10 cents for personal property tax, excluding merchants’ capital.

The revenue from the proposed tax increases would go solely to provide for emergency medical services.

The July 10 county press release stated that it is envisioned that the balance of the new ambulance cost to be paid upon delivery will be paid from the revenue generated by the dedicated tax levy.