Ambulance board approves contract with GeoComm

The Callaway County Ambulance Board approved a motion Tuesday night to continue its contract with GeoComm for its automated vehicle location system (AVL).

That vote came following a recommendation from Callaway County Ambulance District Director Charlie Anderson that he still believes the system will be beneficial to the district, despite the Callaway County Sheriff's announcement last week that it plans to cut ties with the project.

"I'm ready to give the go-ahead. I explained to GeoComm that based on consistent tracking in areas where there is cellular reception, and coverage returning when cell coverage returns - basically working like they advertised the system would work - I wanted to move ahead," Anderson said. "But, I explained that we're not paying a single penny more."

The ambulance district already has paid $27,189 on the original contract with GeoComm, with the remaining $3,020 to be paid "after 30 days of consistent AVL and mobile mapping."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.