Two members of the Patrick County Board of Supervisors refused to support the purchase of a new ambulance for the career crew to use when responding to calls.

Lock Boyce, board chairman, said he voted against the measure because he objected to the way it was handled.

“I resent the way we all of a sudden have an ambulance and I resent” the way in which the purchase was handled, said Boyce, of the Mayo River District. “A telephone poll” was conducted of individual board members “to see what members of the supervisors want it.”

Rickie Fulcher, vice chairman and of the Peters Creek District; Crystal Harris, of the Smith River District and Karl Weiss, of the Blue Ridge District, supported a motion to ratify the results of the telephone poll at the July 9 meeting.

County Administrator Tom Rose said the ambulance initially cost $35,000, but the seller came down to $26,000.

Specific information about the vehicle, such as model or make, was not presented. Information about the condition of the vehicle and mileage also was not presented at the meeting.

Rose failed to return a telephone call for additional information.

During initial conversations about starting a career service, Boyce recalled that Emergency Services Coordinator Steve Allen said “we’ve got a great ambulance.”

At the time, Allen was referring to an ambulance donated to the county by the Vesta Volunteer Rescue Squad.

“Now, he wants to buy another second hand ambulance,” Boyce said. “He just went out and bought” a new ambulance.

Allen, who did not attend the recent meeting, later said he approached county officials three or four months ago about the possibility of buying a second ambulance for the career service to use.

After learning about the tight budget, Allen said he dropped the issue.

Geri Hazelwood, assistant county administrator, said that to the best of her memory and understanding, Allen broached the subject of a new ambulance “some time back.” No action was taken at that time due to budget constraints, she said.

Rose, however, recently revisited the issue with Allen “and a couple of board members,” Hazelwood said she understood. The county purchased the vehicle after those discussions.

Harris said she also was contacted about the purchase by Rose, and noted that Allen was on vacation and unaware the purchase was being planned until late in the discussion.

Boyce also did not support the motion to pay nearly $800 to pay for ambulance decals.

Jane Scales Fulk, of the Dan River District, also voted against it.

Fulk said she did not support the purchase because “I’m probably going to vote against spending any money anywhere, but the people in my area are against the paid service and they wouldn’t want to spend any money on it.”

She said she worries “about the money we’re spending. I don’t know where we’re going to get it. I know the paid service has done well for Stuart, but it’s not generating enough money to pay for itself and it never will.”

Allen has maintained the service would not generate enough funds to pay for itself. He said the agency would tap soft billing monies to help offset the expense of providing the necessary service to backup volunteer squads and help serve residents.