On a split vote, county commissioners signed off on a new agreement to continue ambulance services in a partnership with the City of Iola.
Commissioners approved the new, five-year contract on a 2-1 vote Tuesday, increasing the county’s annual subsidy to the city from $1.2 million to $1.65 million next year.
Commissioner Jerry Daniels voted against the measure.
The subsidy also would increase 2.5% each year for year two through five, and has provisions to ensure ambulance stations in Humboldt and Moran remain staffed during transfers or “non-EMS activity.”
It also means ambulance personnel would only perform medical activities when called to a fire, only helping to fight a fire under an emergency situation.
The city’s mutual aid protocol was a big issue that prompted the county to explore other options.
Commissioners were upset that, on numerous occasions, ambulances were not available for medical calls in the county because they were all stationed at fire scenes.
The agreement comes after commissioners said in August that after negotiations with the city failed to make progress, they wanted to pursue negotiations with American Medical Response out of Denver.
Once Iola officials, however, declared they would pursue a stand-alone ambulance service, the county’s talks with AMR were less successful.
In late September, City Council member Carl Slaugh asked commissioners to come back to the table.
Commissioners gave Slaugh credit for his efforts to mend fences.
On Friday, commissioners met in a special executive session to discuss a contract with the city. Council members approved that agreement on Monday.
The new contract takes effect Jan. 1, 2022.
