After a day of “positive” negotiations, Iola and Allen County are on the precipice of a new ambulance agreement.
Iola City Council members agreed to terms Wednesday of a new five-year contract to have Iola continue to provide countywide EMS.
The contract’s provisions were finalized in a private negotiating session earlier in the day during a special Allen County Commission meeting. The contract now goes back to county commissioners for their endorsement.
“It’s in their hands now,” Iola Mayor Steve French said after Wednesday’s 5-1 City Council vote in favor of the contract.
The city’s special meeting capped a busy day for negotiators, including French, Allen County EMS Director Michael Burnett and Iola Fire Chief Corey Isbell, who huddled privately with county commissioners Wednesday morning, and again in the evening with the City Council.
Among the contract’s terms:
ALS-level services
The city agreed to provide two ambulances staffed with Advanced Life Support (ALS) certified staff. In a previous proposal, the city proposed a lesser level, Basic Life Support. The county wanted ALS.
Transfers
Transfers to out-of-county hospitals and treatment centers has been a significant issue in recent months. A contract proposal from AMR, American Medical Response, did not include transfers at all, with officials saying it could be addressed later if staffing were available.
City leaders also objected to the county’s transfer requirements; the current contract calls for two ambulances to be available at a time for transfers, which exacerbates a staffing problem. The new contract reduces that requirement to one ambulance being available for transfers and gives the Fire/EMS department the right to turn down transfers if staff is not available.
Equipment
The county owns vehicles, equipment and at least three adequate facilities. The county will maintain each station and provide utilities, as well as upgrade and replace assets on a reasonable basis. The city will staff the units and do preventative maintenance on vehicles (such as oil changes).
Cost
The annual cost is $1,945,250 and will increase each year based on the consumer price index. The county will continue to receive insurance reimbursements, something they would not have under the AMR contract. Last year, the county brought in more than $800,000, including revenue for transfers.
