Troy inks buy-sell agreement with ambulance service

Troy officials signed a buy-sell agreement last week officially handing over a piece of municipal property to the city’s volunteer ambulance service.

During a May 12 Troy City Council meeting, Mayor Dallas Carr announced he and Tracy Rebo, city clerk, were set to sign the document the following day. In a show of support, councilors passed a resolution approving the sale of the property at 303 N. Third St.

“It’s good. They’re chomping at the bit to get at it,” said Carr of the volunteer group.

Leaders of the ambulance organization first broached the possibility of buying or leasing the city lot in August. Pam Tallmadge, vice president of the volunteer corps, told councilors that the organization was in need of more space. In recent years, the group had struggled with limited space in their county-owned building on Third Street.

Following an appraisal of the property, city councilors agreed to sell the lot to the group for $150,000. Tallmadge told the council that the group was looking into its financial options with a loan officer. Although the organization could purchase the lot outright, leaders were hoping to save some of their funds to improve their new base.

Back in August, Tallmadge said the group planned to convert one of the structures on the lot into an office space with a sleeping area for on-call volunteers. Another building would service as an instructional facility where the group would host CPR classes and COVID-19 training. Volunteers would use the other two buildings on the lot as a garage and equipment storage space.

Tallmadge later said the group would need to refurbish the office building, set up the garage and pave an outdoor parking area for one of the organization’s ambulances. Carr offered the city’s assistance in restructuring a portion of the sidewalk abutting the property so ambulances could access the garage.