Red Bay officials choose new ambulance provider
Red Bay’s City Council met during a special called meeting Friday to make a decision about an ambulance service for the city.
Council members listened to a proposal from Kyle Buchanon, vice-president of operations for Keller EMS.
Buchanon told council members that Keller could offer one fully stocked ACLS ambulance with 24-hour, 7-day-per-week operation. This would also include eight full-time employees (including one paramedic and one EMT at all times); exclusive rights to all emergency and non-emergency within the city of Red Bay and pre-determined surrounding areas; access to two staffed backup ambulance from Keller EMS in Colbert County; and first responder training for local emergency agencies.
Buchanon also provided council members with a copy of the company’s financial analysis.
“We don’t normally lay out the entire financial analysis, but we did for you in this situation,” Buchanon told the council. “We as an organization have been committed to Red Bay for a long time and we are excited about this opportunity. We want to be open and honest and let you know exactly what we can do.”
When the financial situation was analyzed, council members realized that Keller EMS would still require an approximate $10,000 per month subsidy to make up for the net loss the company would receive.
“What it comes down to with Keller is there just aren’t enough calls to balance the kind of service we’re requesting without someone taking a loss,” councilman Mike Stockton said. “I’m also nervous that there would only be one ambulance available.”
Council members then discussed Transcare, an ambulance service provider based in Corinth, Miss.
According to Mayor Bobby Forsythe, Jeff Kemp, operations director with Transcare, said his company could provide a stand-alone facility with three ambulances available. Kemp also told the council his company would not require a subsidy from the city.
After weighing each option, Stockton made the motion that the city go with Transcare, pending their agreement to a 90-day severance clause agreement and a reference check.
Council members agreed this would be the best decision for the city based on the information they had been given.
In other business, the council:
• Approved a resolution designating NACOLG to administer Project #LR-PF-PL-10-001 for a downtown planning grant.
• Approved a resolution pledging $13,146 in local matching funds for the sewage energy upgrade project.
