The Fayette County Board on Tuesday night, passed a new ordinance pertaining to ambulance service in the county, with the passing vote coming after a lengthy discussion. Under the planned consent agenda for the meeting, an item for approval of the ordinance was pulled out for discussion. Board member Joe Wills started the discussion, expressing his concern with the ordinance. Board Vice-Chairman Merrell Collins expressed that he was confident in the ordinance that had been drafted by State’s Attorney Brenda Mathis. Sheriff Ronnie Stevens was asked for his opinion and he discussed how their calls usually work with ambulances showing up and said he knows in Ramsey that the amount of calls has went up for ambulance services and acknowledged that things will never be perfect with the rurality of the county. Mathis was not on hand for the meeting, but Assistant State’s Attorney Jessica Carr was present and stated that the presented ordinance is in line with what state statute wants.
In the ordinance it reads, “WHEREAS, limiting of the number of ambulance services which are allowed to operate within the county is necessary for both emergency and non-emergency ambulance service operations and transports in order to attract ambulance service providers or resources willing to conduct business and to provide adequate emergency ambulance service coverage to Fayette County, Illinois.” Fayette County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Rachel Denning was also on hand for the meeting and having experience in the area of ambulance service discussed how having contracts would keep an ambulance service provider from coming into the county and then leaving quickly if they were not getting enough calls and such that would lead to them pulling out after a short amount of time. With the agenda item pulled out, it was decided a roll call vote would be taken for the ordinance. After extended thought by a few council members, the measure was approved by a vote of 7-2-1 with board member Glenda Bartels abstaining and Joe Wills and Scott Ray voting “no”. The seven “yes” votes came from board members Ashley Towler, Ryan Tompkins, Pat Click, James Wehrle, Mack Payne, Michael Butts and Merrell Collins. Board members Jake Harris, Casey Cameron and Doug Knebel were not present for the vote.
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