John Graham stands in front of the Marion County Courthouse in this file photo.JASPER, Tenn. – When Marion County made the switch from Grandview Medical Center to Puckett EMS for ambulance service, county leaders said they were obligated contractually to buy Grandview’s remaining vehicles.
County Mayor John Graham said each of the five ambulances the county owns costs about $53,000. Those ambulances are stored at the Marion County Highway Department, officials said.
Commissioner Donald Blansett said the county’s contract with Grandview obligated it to buy the vehicles.
“The contract said we would buy those ambulances back,” he said. “We had to buy them. We didn’t have a choice.”
Graham said Grandview tried to sell off its fleet of ambulances when it stopped providing ambulance service but was able to sell only one before the county took possession of the rest.