According to the Times, Glasgow mayor Charles Honeycutt announced during the Barren-Metcalfe Ambulance Board of Directors meeting that there has been some discussion about the board of directors of STATCARE, Inc. locating a medical helicopter station in Glasgow.

However, stationing a helicopter in Glasgow is not definite, said Mike Swift, director of the Barren-Metcalfe Ambulance Service.

"I would like to have the helicopters here because I think it would save a lot of lives," Honeycutt said.

STATCARE, Inc. is composed of air medical service officials from Jewish, University of Louisville, and Norton Hospitals.

Honeycutt pointed out that some of STATCARE officials' concerns about locating a station in Glasgow is the cramped space the helicopters would be required to take off from T.J. Samson Community Hospital.

Honeycutt explained that because of the space problem and with extremely hot temperatures, the helicopters would have to take off vertically. Vertical take-offs require more fuel, and could prevent a problem in the event the helicopter may have to fly to another southcentral Kentucky county.

"They are still very much interested," Swift said. "I think there's a lot of excitement about them coming here. It's not just going to benefit the Glasgow-Barren County area, but the whole region."

For instance, Swift stated that if the helicopter had to respond to the scene of an emergency in Clinton County there may be enough fuel for the helicopter to go from Clinton County to Glasgow with a vertical take-off, but more than likely not enough fuel to travel from Clinton County to Louisville with a vertical take-off.

Honeycutt said he has discussed the possibility of locating the station at the Glasgow Airport with STATCARE officials. At one time, he continued, they discussed placing a mobile home at the airport for the helicopter staff to stay in when they are on duty, but since the airport is located outside of Glasgow's city limits, the mobile home would not have sewer service.

A septic system would have to be installed and a water line run to the mobile home before the helicopter staff could use it, he said, adding that there is also a problem in deciding who would pay for the septic and water systems.

Swift also pointed out if the helicopters were stationed at the airport, their take-offs would be more gradual and not as steep as they would be if they took off from the hospital.

He also stated that the high temperatures were a problem earlier this summer, but may not be much of an issue now for STATCARE.

Swift said he expects a decision within the next couple of weeks. He said the helicopters would probably be one the largest fuel users for the airport.

"They want to be a functioning and viable part of the community," he said.

Swift also presented board members with a rough draft of how the ambulance service's headquarters will look when remodeled. He explained that at the present time the business office for the ambulance service is located in the back of the building. This is a problem, he said, because no one is at the front of the office to instruct people up where they need to go when they come in.

When the dispatching center was located at the ambulance service, Swift said, it was not as much of a problem because someone was in the front of the building on a regular basis.

Honeycutt suggested Swift talk to an architect to get an estimate on how much it will cost to remodel the ambulance service's headquarters.

The other board members agreed with Honeycutt, and asked Swift to present the estimate at the October meeting.

Board members also agreed to begin paying their bills monthly rather than quarterly.

Jason Chenoweth, finance director, stated that there has been a problem with cash flows and deficit funding payments.

"This not a new problem; it has been a constant struggle over the life of this corporation," he said. "As the board approves and budgets new expenditures, the problem only grows."

He also said the current problem exists only with expenditures the board has already budgeted, and not with new expenditures.