A new committee has been formed to work on getting a contract set up to secure ambulance service for Fayette County.
On Thursday afternoon, a group that included 4 City of Vandalia Aldermen, 4 Fayette County Board members, Mayor Rick Gottman Fayette County 911 Coordinator Kevin Jenne, Fayette County EMA Director Rachel Denning, St. Elmo Mayor Kimberly Baron, Vandalia Police Chief Jeff Ray and Fayette County Sheriff Ronnie Stevens met at Vandalia City Hall.
Kim Bouser of Rural Med EMS said they started providing ambulance service in Fayette County in 2016 and have now been the only ambulance service in the county for a few years. Rural Med has no contract for ambulance service with Fayette County—but they do have contracts in place with Bond, Effingham, St. Clair and Madison Counties to provide services there. She says the revenue as an ambulance service in Fayette County is very slim and they are not breaking even. In fact, she stated they have a $200,000 to $250,000 deficit in Fayette County. Vandalia Police Chief Jeff Ray says securing an ambulance service with a contract is something he has been pushing for quite some time.
As was stated, the Fayette County Board took proposals from ambulance providers at one point in the past, but later voted to not to approve any type of contract. Vandalia Alderman Mike Hobler says that Rural Med EMS deserves credit for stepping up and working Fayette County and he said he believes the county should re-consider on giving a contract. Fayette County Sheriff Ronnie Stevens says another factor for Fayette County is overall size of the county and the need for a secure service.
It was suggested that a committee be formed to look deeper into the this issue and to try and work out a contract. Bouser said they do need some type of assistance, whether that would be a free place to store their ambulances and/or possibly funding to help. Vandalia Mayor Rick Gottman suggested a committee made up of the Mayors of Fayette County communities, the Chiefs of Police, the Fire Chiefs, the EMA Director, 911 Director, the County Board Chairman and representatives from the Fayette County Board and the Vandalia City Council. The first meeting of the group is set for February 6th at 6 pm at Vandalia City Hall.
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