ESD #4 tables Legacy-Jewett EMS decision

Earlier this month, ESD #4 (Buffalo, Oakwood, Flo area) requested bids for local ambulance service, with an announced award date of August 13. Five companies asked for Requests For Proposal (RFPs) which outlined the parameters expected of the EMS service. At the bid deadline, two ambulance services had responded with a bid proposal: Jewett EMS and Legacy EMS, the company which had been servicing ESD #4 on a month-to-month basis since the creation of the taxing district in May.

On Thursday, August 13, the ESD#4 Board their regular monthly meeting, with the agenda including the awarding of the threeyear contract for ambulance service. Board President Joey Rodell was on vacation and not in attendance, so VP Jerry Moore presided over the meeting with Vera Barnett, Joe Echols and Pat Smith in attendance and a good-sized audience on hand.

Representatives of both ambulance services were present and given the opportunity to elaborate on their company’s proposal and to respond to any questions from the Board or the audience. Legacy’s proposal was the lower bid by $15,000/ year. Legacy also imposes a $75 non-transport fee when they respond to an accident but no one requires a ride to a hospital; Jewett does not. A lengthy discussion centered on the fact that Jewett EMS’s employees and administrative offices are here in Leon County and therefore more of their people would be supporting the local economy. Other discussion centered on the availability of First Responder

training and where to permanently locate the ambulance

office.

When the matter came to a vote, the four board members were divided. Smith and Echols voted to award the contract to Legacy EMS, and Barnett and Moore cast their votes for Jewett EMS. Lacking a majority vote, the contract was not awarded and the Board scheduled a special session on August 27th at 7:00 at the Senior Citizens Center. Rodell should be present and another vote taken. Guests at Thursday’s meeting suggested that the Board members talk to residents in the meantime to try to determine the community’s preference in the matter.

The balance of the meeting was spent covering routine housekeeping matters.