The Public Safety Committee discussed and approved a resolution extending the city’s agreement with Alstar EMS for EMS services. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

A resolution confirming the extension of the agreement between the city and Alstar EMS for EMS services into next year was discussed and approved by the Public Safety Committee.

It was confirmed that the resolution is an extension of the agreement, allowing it to continue into next year. The agreement with Alstar and the city began back around 2020 after a Request For Proposals was put out for EMS services by the city and Alstar was considered to be the most qualified option, according to the agreement.

Interim Fire Chief Ryan Roush said that the flat fees in the agreement will be changing to a percentage.

“My understanding is those numbers are relatively close overall, just volume driven,” Roush said.

It was noted that the agreement remains favorable for both Alstar and the city, and that the city fire department has a good relationship with them. Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At Large and chair of the Public Safety Committee, expressed some concerns about the language in the agreement, specifically in the section saying that Alstar will provide two fully-staffed and fully-equipped ambulances to the city when requested.

“Now that verbiage in there, it’s pretty clear that Alstar is going to dedicate it says two fully-equipped ambulances,” Russell said. “My concern is, and I may hurt some people’s feelings when I say this, but there have been many times in the past when this agreement has been violated, where there has not been two fully-staffed ambulances at all times.”

Russell expanded on this, saying Alstar ambulances in the past have been sent to other places such as to other hospitals somewhere, leaving the city fire department without help.

“That’s my only concern that we draw up these contracts with Alstar and then they’re not being followed because we are not being provided two fully-staffed ambulances at all times, exactly what the language says in the contract,” Russell said. “Frankly, I hope I’m wrong and I hope they continue or they change their ways and provide these ambulances all the time, but in the past they have violated this agreement over and over again by not providing two fully-staffed ambulances.”

Councilman Bill Reynolds, R-Ward 5, also noted that the number of volunteers coming into the city for these services has decreased drastically. The agreement was approved by the Public Safety Committee.