10/29/2025
PRESS RELEASE: Hardin County Expands Lifesaving Reach with 9th Full-Time Ambulance
Elizabethtown, KY | October 29, 2025 — In a major win for public safety and emergency response, Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul proudly announced this morning the launch of the county’s 9th full-time ambulance and crew, set to be housed at the newly renovated West Hardin Fire and Rescue station in White Mills.
The new station coverage districts have been defined, Taul said. This was finalized after several months of exhaustive studying EMS, 911 and other data. The newly added EMS Station 5 area is shown in the graphic as a light blue color.
These changes will more evenly distribute runs for ambulances by population density, heavily traveled and congested roadways and frequency of current calls for assistance, Taul said. The updated areas will be closely monitored and weekly updates to Taul and
department heads will determine if any adjustments will be needed.
“This is a game-changer for our residents,” Taul said. “After months of careful planning and listening to voices from every corner of our county—from White Mills to Radcliff to Sonora to Vine Grove—we’re thrilled to deliver the long-overdue support our communities deserve.”
Tuesday night Hardin Fiscal Court voted to pass resolution 2025-207. This was the required lease agreement between the county and fire department. The volunteer organization utilized about $25,000, most of which came from donations and fundraisers, to renovate a portion of its space for EMS, Taul said.
West Hardin Fire and Rescue Chief Steve Gore was at the meeting and signed the lease agreement along with county officials moments after it passed. The county will pay the department $250 a month to primarily cover added expenses for utilities.
“Our team researched many different options that would not increase the EMS budget and considered replacing a full-time ambulance with a part-time rig in the Sonora and Radcliff stations,” Taul said. “We considered a 40-hour ambulance at the new White Mill station. After listening to many concerns from people in the western, northern, and southern parts of this large county, I’m excited to partner with our newly merged West Hardin VFD. This amazing cooperative effort will now house the long overdue support and lifesaving care of emergency medical personnel to staff a 9th ambulance. The other 4 station ambulances will keep their current staffing.”
The next step of moving a crew into the site can begin soon. The cost to taxpayers ultimately will be roughly $300,000 in payroll through the end of this fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. There are currently 58 EMS responders on staff and several more are to be hired, Taul said. The county owns 4 reserve ambulances that are fully operational and will put one into full-time service. The goal is to be operational by mid-November.
There will be an official push-in ceremony announced soon at the site. The community, officials and EMS crews will gather and continue the time-honored tradition that dates to the days of horse-drawn equipment which had to be pushed into the bay. The public and media will be encouraged to attend this historic and exciting event.
