Last Updated on June 19, 2025 7:29 pm
Watauga County has reached an agreement with Watauga Medics, Inc. for AmbulanceServices in Watauga County to become a County-Operated Service. At the June 17, 2025 regularlyscheduled meeting, the Watauga County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of theassets of Watauga Medics, Inc. for $1.7 million. $1 million was for the purchase of all ambulancesand equipment of Watauga Medics, and $700,000 for the purchase of Medic Base 2 located at 133Boone NC 28607. Additionally, the Commissioners established an ambulancereplacement schedule for the nine ambulances that are being purchased from Watauga Medics,Inc. This action is the culmination of discussions with Mr. Craig Sullivan, the Director of WataugaMedics, Inc. Mr. Sullivan has served Watauga County for over 30 years as first a paramedic andthen as the owner of Watauga Medics. Mr. Sullivan has expressed a desire to retire at the end ofhis current contract with Watauga County which expires December 315, 2025. In evaluatingoptions, Watauga County concluded that there was not an alternative, third-party provider of theseservices which met the County's standards of care.
What does this mean for Watauga County? The County will be transitioning from acontractor-based model of EMS to a County-operated service. This model is consistent with thatprovided by 94 other counties in the State that operate their own emergency medical services.County staff will immediately begin meeting with current Watauga Medics employees to provideinformation on the transition and also open lines of communication for any questions or concernsabout this new model. Additionally, the County will soon advertise for a position to oversee dailyoperations of this new service.
Watauga County would like to recognize the great service provided by Watauga Medicsover the two decades of their operation in the County. We wish Mr. Sullivan a long, healthy, andhappy retirement. We look forward to the continued partnership with Watauga Medics over thenext several months as we work to make this transition seamless and without disruption of serviceto the citizens.Braxton EggersC h a i r m a n
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