SALYERSVILLE – The Magoffin County Fiscal Court met in special session on Monday, March 2, approving a temporary contract for ambulance services.
The fiscal court approved the salary schedule for the new opioid abatement liaison they hired in last month’s meeting, setting the pay rate at $17 per hour for a six-month probationary period and $17.50/hour after the probationary period.
The court approved a resolution for a lease for the financing of a project.
The biggest news out of Monday’s meeting was that the court approved an agreement with AmeriPro EMS for temporary ambulance services. AmeriPro has agreed to provide Magoffin County with free ambulance services through March 30, 2026, giving Magoffin County Judge/Executive Don McFarland more time to negotiate with them the terms of a more permanent contract.
He said since AmeriPro came into the county last week, he’s heard only good reports, noting they may still be struggling finding some of the roads. McFarland said he has advised the rescue squad to help them navigate the community until they can get acclimated.
AmeriPro is using the same location on the Mountain Parkway previously used by Patriot Ambulance Services as a station for ambulances. McFarland said AmeriPro EMS is looking into creating a partnership with ARH and other counties to offset the costs to the counties for services, but those potential alliances are being discussed at this time. If that can be arranged, they may be eligible for grant funding, but McFarland explained he’s still arranging for other options if a long-term agreement cannot be made with AmeriPro.
He said he is impressed with AmerPro thus far, which deployed units to Magoffin very quickly and local first responders are helping to get familiar with the area.
Judge McFarland updated the community with the following via social media on February 26 regarding the ambulance service status:
I am pleased to provide a positive update regarding the state of our ambulance situation in Magoffin County, Kentucky. As some of you might know, Patriot Ambulance Service pulled services from Magoffin County effective Monday February 23, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.
Thankfully, our neighboring counties were gracious to our emergency situation and agreed through Mutual Aid Agreements to provide services until we could find an answer to our ambulance dilemma. So, thank you to Morgan, Johnson and Floyd Counties to your help in our time of need.
In order to maintain an ambulance company, it is necessary to have a state approved Certificate of Need. I have been working with the Kentucky Board of Medical Services in Frankfort, Kentucky. They have been reasonable in assessing our situation.
However, according to Kentucky Administrative Regulation 202 KAR 7:555, Magoffin County only had 72 hours to have an emergency ambulance company in place or we would lose our Certificate of Need.
I and my staff met with different ambulance providers, but one really stepped up during our time of need. We met with Mr. Brian Bishop of Ameripro EMS of Kentucky. Mr. Bishop really came through and committed 30 days of free emergency ambulance services to our beloved county, until a permanent arrangement can be reached. By doing so, he allowed us to maintain our Certificate of Need.
I and Magoffin County will be forever grateful to Mr. Brian Bishop and AmeriPro for acting so swiftly to see that our needs were and will be met. According to the regulations, we had until 8:00 a.m. today (Thursday) to have an ambulance service in place. After our conversation yesterday at 2:00 p.m., AmeriPro agreed not only to provide the county with services, but also to get established by 8:00 p.m. Wednesday night, just six (6) hours after our conversation rather than waiting until 8:00 a.m. today. It is my understanding that AmeriPro made two (2) runs last night that were successful and uneventful. Mr. Bishop got things done quickly and went above and beyond to see that Magoffin County and its residents were protected.
I am confident that we will be able to reach a long-term agreement with AmeriPro to provide services for Magoffin County and I believe that we will have a contract signed within these 30 days regarding same.
I definitely want to thank Magoffin Economic Director Jimmy Salyer for all of his efforts in helping secure an ambulance service. I would also like to thank Salyersville Mayor Stanley Howard, Fire Chief Paul Howard, and Rescue Squad Chief Dewey Marshall for their work in helping secure a place for the ambulance company to be housed under such short notice. Good things happen when everyone, all branches of government, work together to solve a problem.
Regardless, I just wanted to inform Magoffin County and all the people that I love and cherish that we are protected by a quality ambulance provider and hopefully will be for the long term.
Sincerely and God Bless,
Donald Wayne McFarland
Magoffin County Judge/Executive
