The council for Junction City renewed its contract with Air Evac Lifeteam so that every resident in the city limits will have free access to the emergency air ambulance service this year.

The council approved the contract for $11,864 at its regular city council meeting Thursday night. This is the fourth year in a row the town has contracted for the service, and it’s at the same cost as last year.

After the meeting, City Clerk Susan Music said providing the service to Junction City residents, “Is the best thing possible.” She added, “A lot of people use it,” in emergency situations when someone is injured in vehicle crashes or if they are very sick.

In other business, Lisa Bottom with the the Boyle County Officer and Community Safety Fund presented Mayor Jim Douglas a check for $5,333.01 for the city to purchase dash and body cameras for the Junction City Police Department.

On Monday, Douglas said the cameras were “quite expensive.” And, at this time, “I do not know how many, or when, or if” the city would be able to purchase the camera equipment.

“I have a lot of research to do on them,” Douglas said.

He added that it’s possible the town’s new municipal building, which is under construction, may be ready in time to host the February city council meeting. But he’s not sure.

Douglas said he wants to have an open house to show off the new facility, which will also house the Junction City Fire and Police departments, but with the restrictions of public gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those plans will have to wait.