BREAKING: Pleasant Bay employees quit, Shoals ambulance approved as provider

At Monday morning’s Franklin County Commission meeting, employees of Pleasant Bay Ambulance Service took off their company shirts and resigned from their positions after learning their company had not received the recommendation to be the county’s sole ambulance provider.

Moments after Probate Judge Barry Moore read the letter of recommendation from the county EMS Committee listing Shoals Ambulance as the committee’s choice, the Pleasant Bay employees, who were standing in the back of the room and near the door, began taking off their Pleasant Bay T-shirts.

Several employees yelled remarks such as “good luck” and “y’all can have it” as some threw and some handed their shirts to Martha Malone and stormed out the door.

Elzie Malone, owner of Pleasant Bay, said he had no prior knowledge that his employees were going to resign or make a statement at Monday’s meeting.

“I think they’re just tired of being told they’re not good enough,” Malone told the commission.

“We filled in for the 90 days while this issue was being decided, but we’re not under any further obligation.”

When it became apparent that the county was in need of emergency ambulance coverage, Blake Hargett, the operations manager for Shoals Ambulance Service, made a call during the meeting to have an ambulance immediately dispatched to Franklin County to provide services.

“We will do whatever we need to do to make sure the people of Franklin County have coverage,” Hargett said.

The contract between Shoals Ambulance and the county is expected to be signed as soon as attorneys for both sides have it approved. Moore said that is expected to take place later this afternoon.

Keep checking back for more updates on this developing story.