Gibson County Emergency Medical Services Director Dan Alvey said Tuesday the state commission is expected to render a decision June 23 on the use of the new model, produced by Elkhart-based ambulance dealer McCoy Miller.

He told Gibson County Commissioners a committee looked at the prototype ambulance box, which allows for loading patients from either side instead of the traditional rear-loading door.

“Europe has them in service,” he said.

The ambulance dealership’s website says the side-load design eliminates side-facing seating positions, which are safer for ambulance workers. The design gives attendants access to the patient and controls while remaining seated and belted.

It would cost $140,000 for an entirely new ambulance, but the local ambulance service will be remounting the box on an existing vehicle, for $75,000. Plus, they’ll get trade-in value, he said. “It will be a huge cost savings.”

In session Tuesday, commissioners also agreed to extend a lease agreement with Gibson General Hospital for use of the Princeton ambulance base for another year.

The new agreement provides a 30-day out clause and, at $7,500 a year, will save the county about $11,000 in lease payments in one year.

Board of Commissioners President Bob Townsend said negotiations for improvements to the base behind the hospital, which has been leased by the county since the late 1970s, are ongoing. “They would like to see us stay out there,” he said.

Last month commissioners took a $1,000 option to purchase a potential new Princeton ambulance base just northwest of the South Main overpass. Townsend said the county has that option until Aug. 16.