No Bookmarks Exist.
I'll tell you. 00:00:00
OK, please. 00:00:35
15 seconds. 00:00:39
I'm the tamer. 00:00:40
There he is. Don't give me a child. 00:00:44
Newsflash Dallas. 00:00:54
Nothing like that, we will. 00:00:59
All right. I have 5:00. I want to welcome everybody to this special meeting. 00:01:06
To discuss our EMS situation here in the county. 00:01:13
Appreciate everybody for. 00:01:17
Turning out tonight I. 00:01:19
If you'll join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. 00:01:21
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, 00:01:25
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 00:01:31
All right. As the agenda says, our new business that we'll be looking into momentarily is voting on the pre hospital care, 00:01:41
emergency medical and ambulance service, Floyd County, not to include the City of New Albany. 00:01:46
It's a special meeting and we don't follow our normal format at those meetings. So tonight our format will be. 00:01:53
We'll be taking public comments before the commissioners have a discussion and possible vote on the matter before them tonight. 00:02:00
This meeting was called. 00:02:07
I think it was John's. 00:02:11
Request and I think was very reasonable to try to expedite this process because we are under some time restraints. I think we have 00:02:13
65 days into our current contract expires roughly 65 days from where we are today. 00:02:19
So again we'll have all public comment before the commissioners discussion and vote, then we'll have a discussion and possible 00:02:26
vote. I think the we've got our our parliamentarian here tonight, but the way that I see it, the possibilities tonight would be a 00:02:30
tabling of the issue. 00:02:35
A rejection of one or both RFPs. 00:02:40
And then a further discussion of fire based EMS. 00:02:43
So I do want to remind everybody we're in a public meeting tonight. So I really appreciate the limitation of cell phone use. 00:02:47
Texting and. 00:02:57
Obviously calls. I'm going to make sure my ringer is off. 00:02:59
Whatever is decided upon tonight. 00:03:03
Is not the final say on this just a quick civics lesson, You know the Commission. 00:03:06
Put forward contracts, the council still has to fund them fully. So there's going to be further discussion from beyond tonight. 00:03:13
I'm sure that regardless of which way things go and. 00:03:19
You know, there's nothing really immutable in the United States government. 00:03:26
Or our county government, which is why it's so very even the Constitution is. 00:03:31
Subject to a amendment from time to time. 00:03:35
So this will not be the final word on this this evening. So with that in mind, I have 123456789 individuals who've signed up for a 00:03:37
public comment. We're going to try to limit this to two to three minutes. 00:03:44
County Attorney Rick Fox will give you kind of A2. 00:03:53
Signal to let you know that you have one minute remaining. 00:03:56
And we'll go with that. So we'll just take these in order. On the ones that I can read, I might need help on, on some of them, but 00:04:01
Mr. Michael Moody. 00:04:05
We'll just need individuals to repeat their name and their. 00:04:12
Address please. 00:04:18
Thank you. Michael Moody, 1754 Hidden Place Drive in Georgetown. 00:04:21
I appreciate the opportunity to talk to you this evening and I appreciate your attention to my words. I'll try and keep this brief 00:04:26
and factual. 00:04:29
The EMS service in this county has been in discussion for a long time. It started over four years ago when some of the elected 00:04:33
officials in the county decided they wanted to move away from the current contract service. 00:04:38
And have the fire service do it. They spend a bunch of money on a study, generated a report, and report basically said the fire 00:04:44
service will be able to take over EMS and it won't cost any more money. 00:04:49
I found out about that effort from the public notice meeting announcement in the paper. 00:04:55
They didn't talk to most of our districts in the process once people got aware of it and involved. 00:04:59
Was decided that was not the best path to go down. 00:05:05
So transform yourself for years later, and the commissioners are still working on it. They put out an RFP. 00:05:08
They got back to. 00:05:14
Potential contracts. 00:05:16
One is the current service provider. Unfortunately, through no means or fault of their own, they've got some baggage. 00:05:18
Some things going on external in the community. The other one is a professional service provider that is currently providing EMS 00:05:24
for New Albany City. 00:05:28
It's a turnkey operation. 00:05:32
As you just said, Mr. Knable, we have at roughly 65 days. 00:05:35
As of today. 00:05:39
At 12:01 on June 1st. 00:05:41
There is not a plan in place to provide EMS to the community. 00:05:43
We don't get a second chance to save somebody's life. 00:05:47
We don't have that opportunity in the emergency services. 00:05:50
I recommend that you move forward with the RFP from American Pro. 00:05:55
Whether you want to do a two or a three-year contract. 00:05:58
Whatever is best, it allows an opportunity for the commissioners to decide what the long range vision is for EMS in this county. 00:06:01
There's some discussion on an alternative. 00:06:10
It's not a complete plan. 00:06:13
It cuts off over 60% of the community from service. 00:06:15
It also doesn't address our community members that need non-emergency ambulance service. 00:06:19
We need to do what's best for the entire community. 00:06:27
And we don't have a lot of time. 00:06:30
So I appreciate your attention. Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to you. 00:06:31
All right. Thank you. 00:06:35
This next one, the last thing, looks like it begins with an REI. 00:06:37
Rifter. Maybe he had to leave. 00:06:42
OK. 00:06:46
I'm sorry, I cannot read the signature if you just give your name and address. Yeah, I'm actually not a resident of Floyd. 00:06:47
I live in Lanesville. 00:06:55
But my name is Chris Ryder REITER. 00:06:57
So my question is this. 00:07:01
You all have Advisory Council, am I right? 00:07:04
Rick Fox. 00:07:11
Eric Fox I am but this is your comments public comment section. It's I do have a question though If you wouldn't mind then I can 00:07:14
get to the comment. 00:07:18
Did you use to represent Jamie Knowles EMT services? 00:07:22
No, you didn't. OK. 00:07:27
So my concern is conflict of interest. 00:07:29
That's why public comment, his conflict of interest is a concern. 00:07:32
And it seems that. 00:07:35
All around this. 00:07:37
In general, that's been a big issue. 00:07:39
Is conflict of interest the good old Boy Network? 00:07:42
So my concern is, is that. 00:07:46
Here today. 00:07:49
Let's put a stop. 00:07:51
To any connections. 00:07:53
That could create a good old boy system. 00:07:55
Like we want to put a stop to anybody getting. 00:07:57
The culinary interests. 00:08:00
To have personal games. 00:08:03
Anything where the decisions made in these rooms. 00:08:05
Might reflect or. 00:08:08
And another person. 00:08:11
In the government. 00:08:12
Gaining some kind of. 00:08:14
Personal gain from it. 00:08:16
Let's make a decision today. 00:08:18
That puts a stop to it. 00:08:20
That's what I wanted to say. 00:08:22
Good. Very good. Thank you. Thank you. 00:08:25
Diana Mayfield. 00:08:30
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you. I'm Diana Mayfield. I live at 6 four O 8 Brent Drive in Floyd Knobs actually 00:08:39
Galena. 00:08:43
Been a lifelong member of Floyd County. I've watched politics in Floyd County a long time. Been an interesting. 00:08:49
69 years, let me tell you, OK, I have a couple of concerns. One of them is the coverage. 00:08:56
I believe one of the bids or two of the bids are stating that they will cover New Albany Township also and that the one from 00:09:04
Lafayette will only cover on the Hill. 00:09:10
You're not doing apples to apples when you're doing bids. You need to do apples to apples. That's not. And also I've been told, 00:09:17
rumor has it that there's already been people put in place. 00:09:24
For jobs. 00:09:32
Isn't that getting the cart before the horse? 00:09:34
You know some of the good old fashioned backdoor boy county politics. 00:09:37
You know, so I don't know what that rumor is true or not. That's up to you guys to find out for us and. 00:09:44
Equipment. 00:09:51
I heard at the last meeting that the equipment would belong to the Commissioners. 00:09:51
I don't believe that's correct. I believe the fire boards handle each one of their buildings, Georgetown, Lafayette, Greenville. 00:09:57
Their fire boards own the equipment that's in their buildings, not you guys. 00:10:04
Not the commissioners. So that's a wrong thought. So you may end up being more money. 00:10:13
Because you were thinking that you were going to own equipment and maybe you're not going to because the fire, the far rock. 00:10:20
Our chief answers to our board. 00:10:27
Then the fire board may answer to you all sometime down the road. 00:10:30
But the Fire Chief is hard by the fire board and the answers to the fire board and the equipment is all owned by the fire board. 00:10:34
OK. 00:10:42
I'm looking at. 00:10:44
Right now on the amount of ambulances. 00:10:47
I don't think that is meshing up to be apples to apples. 00:10:52
And. 00:10:56
Right now what I'm saying I would love to see a far based. 00:10:58
Ambulance service, whether it be Lafayette, Georgetown, Greenville, whoever. 00:11:02
I'd love to see one. I think that's something for the future. I don't think it's ready yet. I think everybody's jumping the gun 00:11:08
and trying to hurry and shove this in 65 days. Are they? And I see a lot of off yet here. Are these guys going to really be ready? 00:11:16
In 65 days. 00:11:25
To handle everything they're going to be handling, considering they just recently went district, that's throwing a lot of new on 00:11:27
top of new guys. 00:11:31
You know, so sometimes you got to get one settled before you step into the other 3 minutes. 00:11:36
Thank you, ma'am. Thank you very much. 00:11:42
Corey pain. 00:11:46
Hello, my name is Corey Payne. I live at 8100 Autumn Drive in Georgetown IN. 00:11:52
I'm the current president of the Georgetown Professional Firefighters Union Local 5393 that represents Georgetown Fire Protection 00:11:58
District. 00:12:01
Over the past several years, emergency medical services in Floyd County, Indiana have been a heavy topic of discussion multiple 00:12:05
times over. Now we have landed a contract with an EMS provider, only to just a few short years later. When the contract is ending, 00:12:11
we begin to seemingly scramble and try to select a new provider or to update the current contract with the same provider in an 00:12:16
attempt to get more ambulances. 00:12:21
It is the opinion of the members of the union that I represent that we are ready to see a more permanent solution established 00:12:28
emergency medical services cannot continue to be a secondary thought to firing police departments any longer. 00:12:33
We would like to express our desire to become part of the solution and aid this county with its EMS needs. 00:12:40
At this time, we would like to express our interest in an EMS program that, in our opinion, should have no less than five 00:12:45
ambulances on duty in Floyd County 24 hours a day, seven days a week this ambulance agency should service. 00:12:52
New Albany Township, Highlander Fire Protection, Georgetown Fire Protection, as well as Franklin Township. We understand that 00:12:59
these types of things cannot be accomplished overnight, but we cannot continue to kick the proverbial can down the road and push 00:13:04
it off for two more years at a time, waiting on the next contract to expire before we find our solution. We would still like to 00:13:09
suggest that a temporary solution be put into place this evening utilizing one of the agencies that submitted a bid to provide. 00:13:15
I'm sorry. 00:13:20
Submitted a bid to provide EMS protection to at the appropriate amount of ambulances and staff members, as well as the appropriate 00:13:26
certification level as the county has requested them, if we can put that temporary solution into place today. 00:13:32
For the next 1-2 or even three years, that should give sufficient time to establish funding, purchase equipment, hire employees, 00:13:39
establish standard operating procedures, and provide training to the employees. 00:13:45
At the end of this temporary solution contract, we should then be ready to step up to the plate and hit a home run for emergency 00:13:51
medical services in this county. 00:13:55
Thank you. All right. Thank you. 00:13:59
I have a mark again or gin. 00:14:02
It's hard G, OK? 00:14:06
Well, yeah, I probably blew it. Yeah. Mr. Martin again. Well, I've got another energy on here, so I'll get it next time, maybe we 00:14:08
may be related. 00:14:13
4012 Glenwood Way. I have a Sellersburg mailing address, but that's the post office. I lived in New Albany Township. 00:14:20
I'm a retiree. I've lived in a number of communities through my working career. I think I'm in house #9 right now. 00:14:28
Fire based EMS is the standard I'm used to seeing. 00:14:35
Seeing it work very well. 00:14:38
I just want to state a few reasons why I would be personally in support of fire based EMS. I don't know if we can get there now, 00:14:40
but I'm certainly in favor of it as a as a permanent solution. 00:14:44
For one thing, very large portion of your EMS calls of your emergency calls, and when one calls. 00:14:50
They require rescue services and they require medical treatment, so you got fire and EMS are going to the scene anyway. 00:14:56
Second point. 00:15:04
Your fire departments are already strategically located through your county for fast response time, and here's a national standard 00:15:05
for that. 00:15:08
You would also provide stability for your EMS staff, which you don't have today. Right now you've got a revolving door. I think 00:15:13
people have alluded to a revolving door of private service providers. 00:15:19
Which means that people are jumping ship from provider to provider. Provider you have no career stability. 00:15:25
So basically you get that stability of service if you base it on a fire based system for the county. 00:15:31
You also get a better work environment. You only somebody sitting at an ambulance under a bridge waiting for a call. 00:15:36
You got facilities, you've got a standard pay structure, you've got benefits. 00:15:42
Probably a career ladder that makes it easier to recruit and retain skilled EMS personnel, which I understand are very much in 00:15:47
short supply in this nation. 00:15:51
And I will understand why. 00:15:56
No, I couldn't do. 00:15:59
Another thing, the final point is bringing what is clearly a public service agency under the full control of our county government 00:16:00
will provide some very much needed transparency and accountability and following the news, and I'm sure you are. 00:16:06
That's a problem right now. I'm I'm almost ashamed of my party affiliation right now, the way things did. 00:16:13
I'm done. Actually, you did send us an e-mail earlier in the week too. You have the same individual. Thank you for that. Well, it 00:16:20
was well thought out and I appreciate you taking the time to do that. 00:16:25
All right. Thank you, Mr. Jim Freiberger. 00:16:31
Hello Jim Fry, Burger County Council Member, Floyd Knobs District. 00:16:40
Wrote down some notes, I didn't miss anything here. 00:16:46
I've been talking with the residents of Lafayette Township specifically on current EMS issues. 00:16:49
I have not found one person that I've talked to that does not favor a fire based EMS service through Hollander Fire District. 00:16:56
Since we live in a more rural area, response times for emergencies are very critical. 00:17:03
Public safety is the top priority for the Hollander Fire District and they have proven themselves to be multiple, reliable and 00:17:08
efficient alternative for our residents. 00:17:12
They will be dedicated responding to our emergency calls. 00:17:18
They're not trying to generate additional business or service with their staff or vehicles making other non-emergency 00:17:21
transportation runs. 00:17:25
I have discussed, I have reviewed and discussed the Highlander Fire District proposal and feel very comfortable with them being 00:17:30
able to implement this service. 00:17:34
And a reasonable timeline for the current deadline that that's approaching? 00:17:38
And distance to that, there are more affordable alternative compared to America Pro proposal. 00:17:43
And not even considering the reliability factors or response times. 00:17:49
As far as new Chapel proposal should definitely be declined. 00:17:55
They have not met requirements needed to provide the service the county needs. 00:17:59
We have no audited financials. 00:18:04
They had, they don't have a definitive timeline on meeting the services that we've asked for within this time period. 00:18:07
Even with the contract that I've read, even with the penalties of it. 00:18:15
Allowable in their contract, they could still charge us at the $600,000 a year no matter what kind of service they provide. 00:18:19
I'm not sure what you're going to do as a group today and your decision. 00:18:26
But you should not be going against the Mississippi board recommendation. 00:18:32
And the overwhelming support the Floyd County residents of not approving either private contractor. 00:18:36
Proposal for the emergency medical aim and services. 00:18:42
And as a County Council member, I personally will not vote to support any funding for a new EMS service contract with the county 00:18:46
if it's not fire based. 00:18:50
Appreciate your time. 00:18:54
Thank you. 00:18:56
The Chris writer or a reefer? That is OK, you signed it twice an art. Thank you, Sir. Don't vote for new tablet. Mr. Shawn 00:18:59
Bostock. 00:19:03
Good evening, Sean Bostock from Out of County and County Business Interest's. 00:19:13
New Chapel failed to meet the requirements of the FRP. 00:19:20
Mr. Cable, you you brought up that during the last meeting that I attended that. 00:19:24
We couldn't talk about fire based EMS. 00:19:30
Because that wasn't within the realm. So with that same argument, if they didn't meet the recommendations, they should be off the 00:19:34
table. I am pro. 00:19:38
Firebase DMS. 00:19:43
It is obtainable. In 65 days we've seen far worse situations be resolved quick. 00:19:44
I'd be. 00:19:51
For time limits for comfort factor, I'd be open to a hybrid system. 00:19:53
You know, splitting it once you accept a contract. Like you all said, numerous times there's negotiation time. 00:19:58
Negotiate mayor pro to handle. 00:20:04
The New Albany Township district. Give Lafayette or I'm sorry, Highlander at the top of the hill. 00:20:07
They're kind of already doing it anyways, because New Chapel is always late. 00:20:12
Kind of like what their RFP, you know? 00:20:15
Just they didn't show so. 00:20:19
That's an option. 00:20:23
But if you all revolt against and go rogue against. 00:20:25
The recommendation of a very tenured. 00:20:30
Very well educated EMS Advisory Board. 00:20:32
You deserve to lose your elections. 00:20:37
My shirt reads. Are you ready to commit political suicide today? 00:20:40
If you go against the EMS Advisory Board and you go against the public. 00:20:46
Outpouring. 00:20:51
Your commitment? Political suicide? So. 00:20:53
Do the right thing today. 00:20:56
All right, thank you. And then we have a Nathan, you must be a hard GT, right? 00:20:59
I was hoping maybe a softie. I thought maybe we could use some gin around here at some point. 00:21:04
See me in some interesting positions in my lifetime, Captain Gim. 00:21:10
4000 Professional Firefighters 5426, we'll start by first say thank you Corey for supporting the IFF initiative. I really 00:21:17
appreciate that. We differ a little bit on our opinion how to execute that plan. I would like to remind you that EMS the public 00:21:22
safety function which is Corey Payne's point as well, I want to bring it fully into the county. I don't want our county funds 00:21:28
leaving the county, the taxpayer money leaving the county for a profit margin for a corporation. 00:21:34
There is no profit, EMS. Why are we doing that? 00:21:41
We can be staffed on the first day. 00:21:45
We put a hiring request for people asking for information we received, as of 6 hours ago, 18 applicants. I don't know the division 00:21:46
of what positions they're in, but they are members from Oklahoma, Fern Creek, Louisville departments. Many of those reside in our 00:21:53
community or proximal to our community in Clark County. I personally know a few of them, not very well. 00:21:59
I also think that we should follow the results of the previous EMS statements. This agency paid for some time ago. I'm not sure 00:22:06
how long ago that was. I know maybe you were in office at that point. There's some really great information that study and it's 00:22:12
older now. I mean it's it's been out for a few years. I think we should look back at that data and see what they said and. 00:22:18
The IFF is backed us fully. 00:22:57
The state union has backed IFF operations as well. That's their plan. The master plan, which is Firebase DMS. What we're asking 00:22:59
for is you work with Highlander on this. 00:23:04
We're adaptable. We're not under contract with you. If you go with our plan, if it's not sufficient, ask, ask us. We'll step up 00:23:09
two minutes. Give me one more thing. I would like to ask the EMS steering committee board be kept in place. 00:23:15
I've been to New Chapel's district with any DMS. 00:23:54
I've done EMS in the entire county. 00:23:57
I pray that work for you. Thank you. 00:23:59
Thank you before proceeding. 00:24:01
I just want to answer one of your concerns, which is that if you go back to the inception of the EMS board. 00:24:05
It has always been the intent, and I believe still is the intent for that to remain intact. 00:24:11
And one of our stated goals was that. 00:24:16
After we had a new contract in place that that body would serve in as an ongoing function of evaluating incoming data. 00:24:20
And Quality assurance at a minimum. 00:24:28
So that. 00:24:31
Jive with your memory. 00:24:33
All right. Thank you. 00:24:35
So with that, that closes public comment for this meeting and I want to move on to a discussion among the Commissioners. 00:24:37
I think it would be worthwhile if our discussion is kind of motion driven so to speak. So I I don't know whether anyone has a 00:24:45
motion out of the gate. I'll look to you first John, if you. 00:24:51
I like that discussion for a motion. 00:24:58
Well, we can have discussion if we have to bring something forward Northern for there to be a discussion. So if you don't have a 00:25:01
motion then then I have. 00:25:05
OK, I have one and let me get some clarification. So what was the recommendation from the Ms. advisory? 00:25:10
Board, the first recommendation was for us to put an RFP out that had all the criteria that we have. So again, if you want to make 00:25:17
them, no, no. I'm trying to understand what was the recommendation from the meeting last week. 00:25:24
From the Mississippi Advisory Board, well, you know what it was OK. It was to reject both. 00:25:31
Proposals. So would you like to bring that forward as a motion? That's what I want to clarify. OK. 00:25:36
My motion is that we follow. 00:25:41
The recommendation of the Mississippi Advisory Board. 00:25:44
And three. 00:25:47
That has three physicians on there with over 110 years experience. 00:25:49
In emergency medicine. But that is my. That is my. 00:25:54
Motion that we follow the recommendation of the Mississippi Advisory Board. 00:25:59
And reject both RFPs. 00:26:04
So I have. 00:26:06
To reject both RFP's based upon the recommendations of the RFP Advisory Board from last week. 00:26:08
Exactly. 00:26:16
I'll entertain a second on that motion. 00:26:19
All right. There's no second on that motion. 00:26:24
So I would like to bring forward a motion to decline. 00:26:27
To pursue the New Chapel RFP. 00:26:33
I do want to thank them. 00:26:38
I think that. 00:26:41
The new administration has done what they can. I think they're under a lot of, as was said earlier, baggage. 00:26:42
I wish them well. I hope that they survive this endeavor. But. 00:26:50
I think it they basically disqualified themselves by not. 00:26:56
Bringing forward all in the financial material that was necessary. 00:27:00
And required during the RFP process. 00:27:04
So I will look for a second for that motion. I'll second. 00:27:06
OK, I have a motion and a second to decline the RFP from New Chapel. All in favor, aye, aye. 00:27:10
All right. 00:27:18
Any further motions at this point in time? Yeah, I'd like to make a motion that we continue negotiations with the mayor pro 00:27:20
subject to the County Council's approving of funding for the ambulance service. 00:27:25
I will second that. 00:27:31
I move to continue negotiations with Mayor Pro, subject to the County Council's approval of funding for the ambulance service. 00:27:37
And I second that. 00:27:43
So we won't have a discussion on that before taking a vote. 00:27:45
I'll go with who would like to go first on that. Go ahead, He made the motion. 00:27:51
Yeah, it's gonna take a few minutes. I got a few things to say. 00:27:55
Good evening everyone. There's a lot of misinformation floating around the community in regards to emergency medical services in 00:27:59
Floyd County. 00:28:03
As the chair of the EMS Advisory Board, I have an obligation to try and clearly convey to the citizens of Floyd County. 00:28:08
What we have been working on for over half of a year. 00:28:14
I will break this down into three portions. One, general information and education. 00:28:17
To the current RFP process. 00:28:22
And three, the future of EMS in Floyd County. 00:28:25
Before I dive into this issue locally, I would like to pass on some data that I think is important for everyone to know. 00:28:28
Indiana is a state with roughly 3.8 million people. 00:28:35
There are 92 different counties. 00:28:38
With a multitude of different EMS models ranging from fire based, hospital based, municipal. 00:28:40
And private, according to the state of Indiana chief Medical director Doctor Eric Yazel, the state believes the actual number of 00:28:46
paramedics working the streets in that capacity. 00:28:51
Is all of about 1400. 00:28:56
Those numbers tell me two. 00:28:59
First EMS in Indiana is in crisis mode. 00:29:02
Those numbers are beyond dangerously low. Secondly, with all those different types of systems out there, the number is still 1400. 00:29:06
It takes a very special person to work emergency medical services and even more special person to make a career out of it. 00:29:16
According to the National Institute of Health, the burnout rate for emergency medical services is about 60%. 00:29:23
And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, EMS providers are 1.39 times. 00:29:29
More likely to die by suicide than the public. 00:29:35
It's a tough job. These workers deserve our respect no matter what type of agency that they work for. 00:29:38
Locally we have our own unique issues. 00:29:46
In Floyd and Clark counties, there has been 0 paramedic training courses offered since 2012. 00:29:48
That's 12. 00:29:55
It is no wonder our region is lacking in paramedics. 00:29:57
Now, occasionally you can catch a paramedic class in Harrison or Scott County. 00:30:00
But that can be difficult for some. 00:30:05
I can personally attest to the difficulties of traveling out of county for training. 00:30:08
During the mid 1990s I was working third shift on a MIDI unit myself. 00:30:12
And at the end of my shift. 00:30:16
I would have to drive to Washington County for training. 00:30:18
It was tough. 00:30:21
And I can only imagine how much tougher would be if I had a family at home. 00:30:22
On several occasions, I have met with the staff of Ivy Tech in an attempt to restart the paramedic program at the Sellersburg 00:30:27
campus our campus. 00:30:30
I have even began conversations with administrators at IUS to see if they would be interested. 00:30:34
This process is still ongoing, but I am hopeful that it will soon bear fruit. 00:30:39
In order to increase the paramedics in Floyd County, we have to increase training opportunities locally. 00:30:44
Next, I would like to address the building of our current RFP. 00:30:51
I began by ruining reviewing our current EMS contract and even the RFP's that were sent out in 2022. 00:30:56
The current contract signed in 2017 and later amended in 2019 to add an additional ambulance during the hours of 8:30 AM to 6:30 00:31:04
PM. 00:31:08
The original term with New Chapel EMS ran from May 31st of 2017 to June 30th of 2020. 00:31:13
What does that mean? 00:31:21
Our contract has auto renewed for the last four years and there hasn't been any changes to that contract since the amendment. 00:31:22
The subsidy rate in 2019 has been 2000. I'm sorry, $220,000 a year. 00:31:30
Despite the contract expiring on June 30th of 2020, our current provider has not raised that subsidy rate once. 00:31:37
However, last year New Chapel did advise the commissioners that they would not be able to auto renew that rate any longer. 00:31:45
On September 20th of 2022, Commissioner Shellenberger, Corellers and Kamer issued a new RFP for Emergency Ambulance service. 00:31:53
There were two respondents, AMR and New Chapel EMS. 00:32:01
The submission from AMR was for five years at a price beginning at roughly $1.5 million and steadily rising to a price of. 00:32:05
Roughly $1.7 million. 00:32:13
The price for New Chapel EMS offer also offered a five year contract with the price of three ambulances for $766,000 annually or 4 00:32:16
ambulances at $988,000 annually. 00:32:23
Despite sending out those RFP's and a recommendation from the old EMS Advisory Board, no changes were made and the contract once 00:32:30
again auto renewed at the same price. 00:32:35
Of $220,000 negotiated in the 2019 amendment. 00:32:40
My analysis of the current contract was that it was way too loose. 00:32:46
There was number expectation on standards of care. Strategic deployment was mentioned, yet never outlined ever in those units 00:32:50
truly dedicated for emergency calls only. 00:32:54
Our contract was in need of a real overhaul. 00:33:00
So the new EMS Advisory Board went to work in July of 2023. 00:33:02
Our process began with a simple question. 00:33:07
What is it that Floyd County ultimately needed from its emergency medical services? 00:33:10
Not whose name was going to be on the side of the box. 00:33:15
Not who was going to run it. 00:33:17
Just what is it that we need from our EMS system? 00:33:19
The board went to work gathering data new and old, reviewing different standards, and even had doctor Eric Hazel in to could 00:33:23
discuss different EMS issues statewide. 00:33:28
These meetings were run more like a think tank, with members gathered in a circle and not ran like a typical board meeting. 00:33:33
Even though the meetings were very informal, they were still open to the public for all to see. 00:33:39
During our RFP building period, legal troubles surrounding former New Chapel CEO Jamie Knoll began to emerge. 00:33:45
Floyd County commissioners were presented with a possibility that EMS services in Floyd County could cease if the current 00:33:53
provider. 00:33:56
We're gonna be shut down by the state. 00:34:00
To get in front of this issue, the commissioners immediately met with two other local service providers that could possibly help 00:34:02
if needed. 00:34:05
Only one of those services said they could take on Floyd County if needed quickly, and that was the mayor pro EMS. 00:34:09
Even though Floyd County had a detailed backup plan in place, the commissioners decided to increase the number of EMS board 00:34:15
meetings until we were satisfied that RFP had met our needs. 00:34:20
This RFP was the collaboration of all board members. 00:34:26
This was not light at the board's feet. 00:34:30
It was tailor made by this board. 00:34:32
On December 5th of 2023, RFP's were sent out forbid. 00:34:35
And some of the highlights of those RFP's are 324 hour. 00:34:39
Ambulances with 124 hour Paramedic response card dedicated for emergency calls only in Floyd County. 00:34:44
A detailed A detailed strategic deployment plan to include ambulances in Georgetown Township. 00:34:52
Lafayette Township. 00:34:58
In New Albany Township. 00:34:59
The use of AVL and GPS devices capable of live feed data. 00:35:01
Directly into the Floyd County 911 dispatch center. 00:35:06
The EMS Advisory Board reconvened on February 13th of 2024 after receiving two bids, one from the Mayor Pro EMS at a price of 00:35:10
roughly 1.5 annually million annually. 00:35:16
And New Chapel EMS with a sliding scale beginning at $960,000. 00:35:22
And up to a little over $1 million annually. 00:35:26
After the meeting, points of clarification were made to both respondents with guidance from our County Attorney. 00:35:31
These points of clarification were distributed to the EMS Advisory Board and all members of Floyd County Council. 00:35:37
It was clear amongst the Commissioners that the EMS advisory meeting scheduled for March 12th would be for the Board to make a 00:35:45
recommendation based off the two submissions presented. 00:35:50
On February 20th of 2024, it came to my attention that I was scheduled to be. 00:35:55
Representing Floyd County Commissioners at the Purdue University Rd. School. 00:36:01
And that I would miss the meeting. 00:36:04
I immediately notified my vice chair that he would be running the meeting and the board was to make a recommendation on which of 00:36:06
the two bids they wanted the commissioners to pursue. 00:36:10
On the morning of March 12th of 2024, my time at Purdue was cut short by a family emergency. 00:36:15
Later that evening I was shocked to hear that no recommendation had been made but rather 1/3 option introduced and a special 00:36:22
meeting had been called to hear a presentation from Highlander Fire Protection District on March 21st of 2024. 00:36:28
As the chairman of the Floyd County EMS Board, I was totally unaware that another option would be introduced at this meeting. 00:36:36
During the special meeting on March 21st of 2024, Commissioner Knable informed the Board that our attorney advised the 00:36:45
Commissioners would be unable to entertain any other option. 00:36:49
Unless the commissioners rejected the current bids. 00:36:55
However, that did not impede the EMS Advisory Board from hearing the presentation from a Highlander Fire Protection District. 00:36:58
By the end of the meeting, the board voted to request the commissioners reject the RFP's. 00:37:04
And move forward with Highlanders. 00:37:09
Today I have to make a choice. 00:37:13
Follow the EMS Advisory Board's recommendation for rejecting the bids. 00:37:16
Or the commissioners not following the board's recommendation and move forward with a provider that submitted a bid in the 00:37:20
appropriate manner and in the appropriate time frame. 00:37:24
I was not in favor of rejecting the bids, although each of our board members brings something special to the table. 00:37:30
And I respect their professional qualifications. 00:37:36
It does not mean I have to like how this process played out since the March 12th meeting. 00:37:39
As the chair of the EMS Advisory Board, I was never advised by the vice Chair or any other board member that there was a plan to 00:37:44
introduce a whole new option into the mix at the 11th hour. 00:37:49
I believe several board members were not forthcoming with the public. 00:37:56
And that efforts were already that efforts were already underway to explore a true County Fire system with an EMS element. 00:37:59
I do not believe it was appropriate for two Members. 00:38:08
That brought forward the motion and 2nd to reject the current bids. 00:38:11
Voted for an option that directly benefits an organization in which they both represent. 00:38:14
As someone who regularly conducts research rights, proposals, policies and procedures. 00:38:21
I do not believe for one second. 00:38:27
That this operational plan that is 23 pages long. 00:38:29
With a fee schedule and established billing service was crafted in six days. 00:38:32
This is a plan that has been in the works for some time. 00:38:37
Plans submitted by Highlander did not meet the basic criteria that was outlined in our RFP. 00:38:41
It did not cover all of Floyd County. 00:38:47
The Highlander plane utilizes 2 1/2 ambulances, not 3. 00:38:49
It does not meet our strategic deployment template outlined in the RFP. 00:38:54
The department would be utilizing at least one unit that was scheduled for replacement a year ago as a primary unit. 00:38:58
To top it all off, this morning I called the Indiana Department of Homeland Security Emergency Medical Services Division. 00:39:06
According to Jason Smith. 00:39:12
The District 9 representative. 00:39:14
That paperwork this. 00:39:16
At the time, nothing has been submitted by Halander Fire Protection District. 00:39:18
I was notified at 2:00 that that submission had now been received. 00:39:23
Jason Smith's watching on the video, by the way, if you wanted to know. 00:39:31
You know, I felt like that was a little bit of a misrepresentation. 00:39:41
By Highlanders saying that in a public meeting. 00:39:44
That an ALS certification was imminent. 00:39:47
When it clearly was not. 00:39:51
Is this the future system you see for Floyd County? 00:39:54
I don't well start as a transparent, engaging process that begin began in July of 2023. 00:39:56
Has been hijacked by behind the Scene collaborators making last Minute Power Place. 00:40:03
The introduction of a new system at the 11th hour, with board members voting in favor of a system that directly benefits an agency 00:40:09
they receive represent that doesn't even meet the basic criteria that all the board members created. 00:40:15
And what I can see now is a misrepresentation that was made in a public meeting on an agency certification status. 00:40:22
Ladies and gentlemen, this is a perfect example of the type of deals that we need to avoid. 00:40:29
This is not honest and it is not transparent. 00:40:34
Floyd County deserves better. 00:40:37
If other professionals want to stake their personal integrity and professional reputation. 00:40:39
On a plane like this, that is clearly their choice. I will not. 00:40:44
So what does the future VMS look like in Floyd County? 00:40:48
To be honest. 00:40:52
At this point I'm really unsure. 00:40:53
I could have told you what it was looking like 2 weeks ago. 00:40:55
After the RP's were sent out, I spoke out to reach out to Chief Manta, Chief Klein. 00:40:58
And New Albany Township Board President Darrell Bills. 00:41:04
Out of courtesy, I notified them I would be working with Georgetown and Highlander unions. 00:41:07
Seeking to conduct a GIS study. 00:41:12
As a 24 year member of the International Association of Firefighters. 00:41:15
I knew that one of the benefits of being in the IAF was they were able to conduct GIS studies at no cost, saving taxpayers. 00:41:20
Thousands of dollars in giving us real, actionable data to either support or deny the creation of a true County Fire department 00:41:29
with an EMS base. 00:41:33
A plan that would have been collaborative in nature, generating the data we needed to either move forward with. 00:41:40
The fire based system or having to change course. 00:41:45
And examine the standalone county EMS system. 00:41:48
Well, unfortunately a lot of things has happened since the meeting on the 21st. 00:41:52
On the morning of March 22nd, New Albany Township Board President Darrell Mills was notified by Mayor Gahan that the City of New 00:41:56
Albany is unable to assist them with fire coverage at this time. 00:42:01
Blowing a massive hole in the Highlander plane in less than 24 hours. 00:42:07
Was the conversation about the county not covering that area with EMS during our meeting a contributing factor in that decision? 00:42:11
I don't know. 00:42:18
But I could imagine it didn't help efforts much. 00:42:19
On March 25th, I spoke to Georgetown Professional Firefighters Local 5393 President Corey Payne. 00:42:22
During the conversation, I was advised they no longer wish to move forward with Highlander. 00:42:30
On the GIS. 00:42:35
What was meant to be a collaborative effort was being beginning to look more like a hostile takeover. 00:42:37
In closing, I have no interest of playing who is the biggest subject matter expert in the room. 00:42:44
But I will close with these remarks. 00:42:50
1A Professional department should never offer to provide services in another professional department's jurisdiction without the 00:42:52
courtesy of at least a phone call. 00:42:57
I do not know of any department that would tolerate this kind of behavior. 00:43:04
Two, while it is true that Indiana is not an NFPA state. 00:43:08
It is an OSHA state. 00:43:13
And if there's a catastrophe catastrophe on your fire ground, I can assure you that NFPA standards are what will be used during 00:43:15
the course of their investigation. 00:43:19
If you do not know that, I would highly recommend that you avoid giving any expert fire service advice. Thank you. 00:43:24
Thank you. 00:43:33
John, do you have any comments before we go to a vote on this? 00:43:37
Egoic comment I'm gonna exercise my. 00:43:41
Privileged as president to comment last. OK. 00:43:44
Well, since you found out on March 22nd about New Albany, I wish that you had shared that with me, because I didn't. I knew 00:43:48
nothing about it until tonight. 00:43:52
So thank you very much on that part of it. Talk about transparency. Well, in all fairness, I've been dealing with the death of the 00:43:58
family. I understand. FYI, I understand. 00:44:02
But we can also text back and forth. 00:44:08
There are a lot of things here. We talk about a contract, a three-year contract with. 00:44:11
With one of the provider well with Maripro now because your chance will got voted down. 00:44:17
Why you need three years? 00:44:23
Why do you need three years? In fact, we got an e-mail from Chief Banta, the gentleman that runs Scott County. 00:44:25
Nick. 00:44:32
Yes, I called him after after your e-mail. 00:44:35
And asked him, I said why do you need three years? And he said you don't need three years. 00:44:37
He said maybe a year and I said, well, what would you do in that one year that you, you know you've if you've got the? 00:44:42
You got the equipment, you've got the staff. Why do you have to run in parallel? 00:44:49
And you said, well, you know, they could, they could provide, take care of the overrun and all that. The point is this, you don't 00:44:53
need three years. 00:44:57
One year is sufficient. The contract the RFP that we that we the specs that we put out was for a three-year contract. 00:45:01
So if the majorities and the commissioner decided to go with Ameripro? 00:45:09
We have to renegotiate that that that that contract for from three years down to one year. So if you're doing that then that opens 00:45:16
it up to negotiate with other parties as well because the specs were for three years. So why, why give that give that provider? 00:45:25
That privilege, but then I'll reach out to other other ones that that they want to provide that service. 00:45:35
Also too right now. 00:45:46
We have if we have a medical emergency in any of the the the townships. 00:45:48
A ambulances or dispatched from the fire houses or Georgetown case. 00:45:56
A brush truck. 00:46:02
OK, that is working right now And when you look at the response times, they're far, far less than than with the with our current 00:46:03
provider. So we've already got that in place, we've got, we've got the locations that's a matter now the County Council providing 00:46:10
funding in order for the in order for the for them to to staff up. 00:46:17
And you heard Captain again talk tonight. They had, what, 17 or 18 people that are interested. So people say, well, you can't, 00:46:25
it's not going to work. It's not gonna work. Well, you know, several times we have talked about this and Jason, you made the 00:46:30
comment that it gets to a point where it just gets too heavy. 00:46:36
It's too heavy, folks. It's too heavy. 00:46:43
You know, and that's when you need to start looking inside. And I and I and I brought this up, we need to have a conversation with 00:46:45
the commissioners and with the fire departments, so that way we we, we can kind of work through this thing. But nothing's ever 00:46:53
happened. We needed a workshop. That has never happened. My fear is this is that. 00:47:00
If the majority of the commissioners vote for America Pro for a three-year contract, it's going to go to the County Council. 00:47:08
And I don't have tea leaves, but from from listening to two joint meetings. 00:47:14
I don't believe they're going to approve. 00:47:20
And I'll tell you what, I was on the County Council for 10 years and if someone came to me and said, hey. 00:47:22
You give us a stipend for one year and you won't see us. 00:47:27
Again, or we'll come back to you for three more years at 1.4 million. I mean to me it's a. 00:47:31
You know the County Council was already in what, $1,000,000 deficit? 00:47:38
And now you want to add. Now you want to add another $1.4 million or $1.2 million on top of that. 00:47:43
It's not going to happen. OK. This is a way that we can we can migrate to a far based EMS. 00:47:49
The first year. 00:47:57
They would be doing the billing. 00:48:00
And then that would that would be put into A to a non reverting fund. So the second year you have that money available. So let's 00:48:02
talk about revenue. 00:48:06
I reached out to it was Jim Freeman. 00:48:15
He is with ambulance billing service. I've talked to him a couple times back in 2019 and then in 2023. 00:48:19
And I believe they bill for. 00:48:27
I think 15 or 20 different counties. 00:48:30
Here in in in in Indiana. So they have a lot of credibility. 00:48:33
But he said back in 2019, he said now this is a highly conservative approach. 00:48:39
In 2019 $1.2 million. 00:48:44
In billing. 00:48:48
They look at all the. 00:48:49
Demographics and all that. So when I talked to him back in August of this past year. 00:48:52
He said medical reimbursement increases and services utilized by 6.5% of the population annually. 00:48:57
A net revenue is established at $1.5 billion, he said. It is later if it is later determined the annual call rate. 00:49:04
Volume exceeds 2700. The estimate is subject to revision. 00:49:13
We have over 3000 calls. We did in one year. We had over 3000 calls. He anticipates $1.5 million. 00:49:17
And that's conservative. 00:49:26
OK, so if the County Council will provide the stipend? 00:49:28
For that first. 00:49:34
And they do the billing the second year they were fully funded because I know someone brought up at the meeting the other night. 00:49:36
The the numbers don't jive well, they do jive OK. 00:49:43
And the worst case is this. 00:49:46
So let's say you need $100,000. They're coming to the County Council for $100,000 instead of $1.2 million. 00:49:48
And you know, and someone made a comment tonight and to me it just kind of boils down to this. 00:49:56
Is if we go with a provider, contract, provider. 00:50:02
At the end of the year. 00:50:07
All you have to show for it is a. 00:50:09
But if we go with our own fire based EMS, you've got, you've got, you've got equipment. 00:50:13
You've got staff, you have dedicated staff that they're not going to want to move someplace else, they're going to want to stay in 00:50:20
these communities because this is where they live. 00:50:24
This is where their kids go to school. This is where they, the families are involved. You have a commitment from those people. But 00:50:29
if you go with a provider, you know you're going to have constant turnover and all that, but you pay them well. You're going to 00:50:35
retain the people and you're going to and you're going to, you're going to invest in the assets in Floyd County. 00:50:42
In the fire departments. 00:50:48
In the people, in the employees and on top of that, you know we have mutual aid agreements with, with, with surrounding counties. 00:50:50
And if. 00:50:59
If a county has a great EMS service, it only benefits, it helps to benefit the other ones around them, you know. So we need to get 00:51:00
Floyd County to that level. So that way we can all be a partnership together in Southern Indiana. 00:51:07
You know public safety has three legs. You've got, you got, you got police, you got fire. 00:51:15
And you have EMS and right now EMS we only we only fund $230,000 a year for free. Ms. in Fire I think is around 4 to $6 million 00:51:20
and police is what about $8 million I believe. 00:51:27
Less than 1/4 of $1,000,000 is what we is what we fund for for EMS and Employee County. 00:51:34
We can do better than that. And at the end of the day, we go to Firebase EMS. We go away from the provider. I've heard, I've heard 00:51:41
we've had 11 providers here in Floyd County over the many years. OK. 00:51:47
But if you keep, if you keep doing the same thing, you're going to have the same, you're going to get the the same results. We 00:51:54
need to go with something different. We need to go with a fire based EMS. 00:51:59
We need to invest in in the county, in in the fire departments. 00:52:05
And as I mentioned, EMS is one leg and fire department is another. You strengthen those legs as well whenever you do that. 00:52:10
Let me check my note here and I have one more thing to say. 00:52:20
Oh, one thing too, Jason, you had mentioned about the. 00:52:28
Highlander providing their operations plan well, and unfortunately you weren't at the meeting. 00:52:33
But elegant Abel. 00:52:38
Reached out and asked Highlander to provide this operation plan. So it wasn't like it was totally out of the blue. No, we had 00:52:42
asked them to do that within a week. And then then then we decided we needed by Tuesday because the bee was on a Thursday, so it 00:52:48
was not brought out of the blue, it was asked for. 00:52:55
And they worked on this thing and they and they and they presented it as we had asked them to do at the previous meeting. 00:53:02
Thank you. 00:53:10
All right. Thank you. I have a few. 00:53:12
Comments probably a little bit briefer than those. Before we come to vote on this, I want to begin by just acknowledging that, 00:53:14
unlike a lot of my critics, I don't have all the answers. This is a really difficult problem. 00:53:21
Is probably the biggest issue before us, certainly since I've been a Commissioner and I really can conceive a few that would be 00:53:28
more important than this. 00:53:32
And I've tried to apply logic to what has at times been a very emotional subject. 00:53:36
We did undergo an RFP process. We followed our EMS Advisory Board in creating RFPs to meet the needs of the entire. 00:53:44
County excluding the citizens of New Albany proper. 00:53:52
We received one incomplete RFP that lacked financials and that was turned away tonight. 00:53:56
We did receive one that satisfied all of our conditions. 00:54:04
During what I believed was a a information gathering. 00:54:09
Time, I really refrain from comment at our EMS Advisory Board meetings, as did John and as did Jason, because we really were in 00:54:16
listening mode. 00:54:20
But I called upon a lot of connections I made during my seven years with the New Albany City Council. 00:54:24
I spoke with several elected officials in New Albany. 00:54:31
Police personnel, fire personnel, dispatch personnel. 00:54:34
All spoke very, very favorably, without exception of the service that they've received and are receiving from Ameripro. 00:54:40
These discussions all took place, by the way, in a backdrop. 00:54:47
With several fire personnel who've been around for decades. 00:54:51
Who told me of the. 00:54:56
2013 vote from their. 00:54:58
To remove fire based EMS from their contract. 00:55:02
For various reasons that I won't get into tonight. 00:55:06
But they have never revisited that since 2013. 00:55:09
In the midst of these considerations of discussion of fire based EMS. 00:55:13
Did come to the surface. We did ask for information during that, as we said. 00:55:17
I'm not sure how long those discussions have been taking place prior to that information being brought forward. 00:55:24
But we started to receive information on that concretely in mid March. 00:55:30
With regards to fire based EMS, I think that everyone involved in this process is very, very well-intentioned. We have incredible 00:55:36
people in all of our individual departments and I believe that fire based EMS holds much potential promise. 00:55:43
But I do not believe that we can bring everything together that we need to bring together in 65 days. 00:55:51
You might be able to hire. 00:55:56
12/14/16 individuals in that amount of time. You might be able to train them. You might be able to certify them. 00:55:58
But if you can pull that off, I don't think you're going to have seasoned professional veterans out there on the making those 00:56:05
runs. 00:56:09
On one. 00:56:12
We don't have a funding source in place. 00:56:14
In short on that, I think the public has had an opportunity to speak up and will continue to have input on that. Certainly the 00:56:17
firefighters have. 00:56:22
At least the ones that kind of put the proposal together for Highland. 00:56:27
Even though I was told by Darryl Mills and by Georgetown representatives that they weren't brought to the table for this. 00:56:31
Who we haven't heard from and that we need to to make this happen, whether we want to admit it or not. Or the attorneys and the 00:56:39
accountants and the actuaries who are going to be responsible for putting policies in place to help us with the increased 00:56:44
liabilities that we're going to accrue with all this. 00:56:49
The largest issue that I have with that process is that when that plan was presented. 00:56:55
It excluded. 00:57:01
Coverage for New Albany Township. 00:57:02
And parts of Franklin Township, leaving them unprotected. 00:57:04
So even if we could get all that together in 65 days, now we have to scramble. 00:57:09
To get. 00:57:14
For the largest percentage of our population. 00:57:16
So you know, to conclude, I'm personally committed to the process of fully vetting a fire based EMS option. 00:57:19
But only if all of our county departments come to the table in the spirit of mutual agreement, and that we can consider a 00:57:27
countrywide EMS director at the end of the day to manage that system. 00:57:31
That EMS. 00:57:37
Manager, director would be answerable to the commissioners, were answerable to the voters. 00:57:39
So, as was stated earlier tonight, I don't consider my actions political suicide. I've always worried more about being worthy of 00:57:45
reelection rather than getting reelected. So that's where I am on that. 00:57:52
So to that end, you know, I would propose that we put a task force together to begin the work in earnest. 00:58:00
On fire based EMS to see if it's actually feasible financially. 00:58:07
I know that the numbers. 00:58:13
On a balance sheet look good, but the ultimate source for all of this money is the taxpayer. 00:58:16
So even if it's out of that, the County Council and commissioners purview those districts are going to see an increase in their 00:58:21
levy to pay for those services. 00:58:25
So in the interim, which I would hope would be one to two years, I support entering negotiations with the mayor pro four one to 00:58:29
two year contract. 00:58:33
It's not the cheapest solution, but I think it's a very reasonable price to pay to restore public trust and confidence. 00:58:39
In a service that has been rocked the last several months. 00:58:45
By all of these issues that have gone on with former Sheriff Jamie Noel, unfortunately that has tainted New Chapel and again. 00:58:50
I applaud their efforts to try to separate themselves from that and again hope they do well in the future. 00:58:59
So I'm hopeful and I ask that our County Council faithfully considered this option as soon as possible. I believe it is absolutely 00:59:06
the best solution at hand to ensure service and safety to all the people of Floyd County. 00:59:12
In the near term. 00:59:18
So with that. 00:59:21
I will call for a vote. 00:59:22
Do you want to restate your motion? 00:59:25
Oh gosh, I gotta do that again. 00:59:27
Yeah, I'll do it. 00:59:31
Just want to make sure I see it. 00:59:34
Correctly. 00:59:35
As I move to continue negotiations with the Mayor pro subject to the County Council's approval of funding the ambulance service. 00:59:37
All right. A second. All in favor? 00:59:44
Definitely no. 00:59:49
OK. All right. No further business before this board tonight I call for German. 00:59:51
So moved. 00:59:57
No. 01:00:00
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I'll tell you. 00:00:00
OK, please. 00:00:35
15 seconds. 00:00:39
I'm the tamer. 00:00:40
There he is. Don't give me a child. 00:00:44
Newsflash Dallas. 00:00:54
Nothing like that, we will. 00:00:59
All right. I have 5:00. I want to welcome everybody to this special meeting. 00:01:06
To discuss our EMS situation here in the county. 00:01:13
Appreciate everybody for. 00:01:17
Turning out tonight I. 00:01:19
If you'll join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. 00:01:21
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, 00:01:25
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 00:01:31
All right. As the agenda says, our new business that we'll be looking into momentarily is voting on the pre hospital care, 00:01:41
emergency medical and ambulance service, Floyd County, not to include the City of New Albany. 00:01:46
It's a special meeting and we don't follow our normal format at those meetings. So tonight our format will be. 00:01:53
We'll be taking public comments before the commissioners have a discussion and possible vote on the matter before them tonight. 00:02:00
This meeting was called. 00:02:07
I think it was John's. 00:02:11
Request and I think was very reasonable to try to expedite this process because we are under some time restraints. I think we have 00:02:13
65 days into our current contract expires roughly 65 days from where we are today. 00:02:19
So again we'll have all public comment before the commissioners discussion and vote, then we'll have a discussion and possible 00:02:26
vote. I think the we've got our our parliamentarian here tonight, but the way that I see it, the possibilities tonight would be a 00:02:30
tabling of the issue. 00:02:35
A rejection of one or both RFPs. 00:02:40
And then a further discussion of fire based EMS. 00:02:43
So I do want to remind everybody we're in a public meeting tonight. So I really appreciate the limitation of cell phone use. 00:02:47
Texting and. 00:02:57
Obviously calls. I'm going to make sure my ringer is off. 00:02:59
Whatever is decided upon tonight. 00:03:03
Is not the final say on this just a quick civics lesson, You know the Commission. 00:03:06
Put forward contracts, the council still has to fund them fully. So there's going to be further discussion from beyond tonight. 00:03:13
I'm sure that regardless of which way things go and. 00:03:19
You know, there's nothing really immutable in the United States government. 00:03:26
Or our county government, which is why it's so very even the Constitution is. 00:03:31
Subject to a amendment from time to time. 00:03:35
So this will not be the final word on this this evening. So with that in mind, I have 123456789 individuals who've signed up for a 00:03:37
public comment. We're going to try to limit this to two to three minutes. 00:03:44
County Attorney Rick Fox will give you kind of A2. 00:03:53
Signal to let you know that you have one minute remaining. 00:03:56
And we'll go with that. So we'll just take these in order. On the ones that I can read, I might need help on, on some of them, but 00:04:01
Mr. Michael Moody. 00:04:05
We'll just need individuals to repeat their name and their. 00:04:12
Address please. 00:04:18
Thank you. Michael Moody, 1754 Hidden Place Drive in Georgetown. 00:04:21
I appreciate the opportunity to talk to you this evening and I appreciate your attention to my words. I'll try and keep this brief 00:04:26
and factual. 00:04:29
The EMS service in this county has been in discussion for a long time. It started over four years ago when some of the elected 00:04:33
officials in the county decided they wanted to move away from the current contract service. 00:04:38
And have the fire service do it. They spend a bunch of money on a study, generated a report, and report basically said the fire 00:04:44
service will be able to take over EMS and it won't cost any more money. 00:04:49
I found out about that effort from the public notice meeting announcement in the paper. 00:04:55
They didn't talk to most of our districts in the process once people got aware of it and involved. 00:04:59
Was decided that was not the best path to go down. 00:05:05
So transform yourself for years later, and the commissioners are still working on it. They put out an RFP. 00:05:08
They got back to. 00:05:14
Potential contracts. 00:05:16
One is the current service provider. Unfortunately, through no means or fault of their own, they've got some baggage. 00:05:18
Some things going on external in the community. The other one is a professional service provider that is currently providing EMS 00:05:24
for New Albany City. 00:05:28
It's a turnkey operation. 00:05:32
As you just said, Mr. Knable, we have at roughly 65 days. 00:05:35
As of today. 00:05:39
At 12:01 on June 1st. 00:05:41
There is not a plan in place to provide EMS to the community. 00:05:43
We don't get a second chance to save somebody's life. 00:05:47
We don't have that opportunity in the emergency services. 00:05:50
I recommend that you move forward with the RFP from American Pro. 00:05:55
Whether you want to do a two or a three-year contract. 00:05:58
Whatever is best, it allows an opportunity for the commissioners to decide what the long range vision is for EMS in this county. 00:06:01
There's some discussion on an alternative. 00:06:10
It's not a complete plan. 00:06:13
It cuts off over 60% of the community from service. 00:06:15
It also doesn't address our community members that need non-emergency ambulance service. 00:06:19
We need to do what's best for the entire community. 00:06:27
And we don't have a lot of time. 00:06:30
So I appreciate your attention. Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to you. 00:06:31
All right. Thank you. 00:06:35
This next one, the last thing, looks like it begins with an REI. 00:06:37
Rifter. Maybe he had to leave. 00:06:42
OK. 00:06:46
I'm sorry, I cannot read the signature if you just give your name and address. Yeah, I'm actually not a resident of Floyd. 00:06:47
I live in Lanesville. 00:06:55
But my name is Chris Ryder REITER. 00:06:57
So my question is this. 00:07:01
You all have Advisory Council, am I right? 00:07:04
Rick Fox. 00:07:11
Eric Fox I am but this is your comments public comment section. It's I do have a question though If you wouldn't mind then I can 00:07:14
get to the comment. 00:07:18
Did you use to represent Jamie Knowles EMT services? 00:07:22
No, you didn't. OK. 00:07:27
So my concern is conflict of interest. 00:07:29
That's why public comment, his conflict of interest is a concern. 00:07:32
And it seems that. 00:07:35
All around this. 00:07:37
In general, that's been a big issue. 00:07:39
Is conflict of interest the good old Boy Network? 00:07:42
So my concern is, is that. 00:07:46
Here today. 00:07:49
Let's put a stop. 00:07:51
To any connections. 00:07:53
That could create a good old boy system. 00:07:55
Like we want to put a stop to anybody getting. 00:07:57
The culinary interests. 00:08:00
To have personal games. 00:08:03
Anything where the decisions made in these rooms. 00:08:05
Might reflect or. 00:08:08
And another person. 00:08:11
In the government. 00:08:12
Gaining some kind of. 00:08:14
Personal gain from it. 00:08:16
Let's make a decision today. 00:08:18
That puts a stop to it. 00:08:20
That's what I wanted to say. 00:08:22
Good. Very good. Thank you. Thank you. 00:08:25
Diana Mayfield. 00:08:30
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you. I'm Diana Mayfield. I live at 6 four O 8 Brent Drive in Floyd Knobs actually 00:08:39
Galena. 00:08:43
Been a lifelong member of Floyd County. I've watched politics in Floyd County a long time. Been an interesting. 00:08:49
69 years, let me tell you, OK, I have a couple of concerns. One of them is the coverage. 00:08:56
I believe one of the bids or two of the bids are stating that they will cover New Albany Township also and that the one from 00:09:04
Lafayette will only cover on the Hill. 00:09:10
You're not doing apples to apples when you're doing bids. You need to do apples to apples. That's not. And also I've been told, 00:09:17
rumor has it that there's already been people put in place. 00:09:24
For jobs. 00:09:32
Isn't that getting the cart before the horse? 00:09:34
You know some of the good old fashioned backdoor boy county politics. 00:09:37
You know, so I don't know what that rumor is true or not. That's up to you guys to find out for us and. 00:09:44
Equipment. 00:09:51
I heard at the last meeting that the equipment would belong to the Commissioners. 00:09:51
I don't believe that's correct. I believe the fire boards handle each one of their buildings, Georgetown, Lafayette, Greenville. 00:09:57
Their fire boards own the equipment that's in their buildings, not you guys. 00:10:04
Not the commissioners. So that's a wrong thought. So you may end up being more money. 00:10:13
Because you were thinking that you were going to own equipment and maybe you're not going to because the fire, the far rock. 00:10:20
Our chief answers to our board. 00:10:27
Then the fire board may answer to you all sometime down the road. 00:10:30
But the Fire Chief is hard by the fire board and the answers to the fire board and the equipment is all owned by the fire board. 00:10:34
OK. 00:10:42
I'm looking at. 00:10:44
Right now on the amount of ambulances. 00:10:47
I don't think that is meshing up to be apples to apples. 00:10:52
And. 00:10:56
Right now what I'm saying I would love to see a far based. 00:10:58
Ambulance service, whether it be Lafayette, Georgetown, Greenville, whoever. 00:11:02
I'd love to see one. I think that's something for the future. I don't think it's ready yet. I think everybody's jumping the gun 00:11:08
and trying to hurry and shove this in 65 days. Are they? And I see a lot of off yet here. Are these guys going to really be ready? 00:11:16
In 65 days. 00:11:25
To handle everything they're going to be handling, considering they just recently went district, that's throwing a lot of new on 00:11:27
top of new guys. 00:11:31
You know, so sometimes you got to get one settled before you step into the other 3 minutes. 00:11:36
Thank you, ma'am. Thank you very much. 00:11:42
Corey pain. 00:11:46
Hello, my name is Corey Payne. I live at 8100 Autumn Drive in Georgetown IN. 00:11:52
I'm the current president of the Georgetown Professional Firefighters Union Local 5393 that represents Georgetown Fire Protection 00:11:58
District. 00:12:01
Over the past several years, emergency medical services in Floyd County, Indiana have been a heavy topic of discussion multiple 00:12:05
times over. Now we have landed a contract with an EMS provider, only to just a few short years later. When the contract is ending, 00:12:11
we begin to seemingly scramble and try to select a new provider or to update the current contract with the same provider in an 00:12:16
attempt to get more ambulances. 00:12:21
It is the opinion of the members of the union that I represent that we are ready to see a more permanent solution established 00:12:28
emergency medical services cannot continue to be a secondary thought to firing police departments any longer. 00:12:33
We would like to express our desire to become part of the solution and aid this county with its EMS needs. 00:12:40
At this time, we would like to express our interest in an EMS program that, in our opinion, should have no less than five 00:12:45
ambulances on duty in Floyd County 24 hours a day, seven days a week this ambulance agency should service. 00:12:52
New Albany Township, Highlander Fire Protection, Georgetown Fire Protection, as well as Franklin Township. We understand that 00:12:59
these types of things cannot be accomplished overnight, but we cannot continue to kick the proverbial can down the road and push 00:13:04
it off for two more years at a time, waiting on the next contract to expire before we find our solution. We would still like to 00:13:09
suggest that a temporary solution be put into place this evening utilizing one of the agencies that submitted a bid to provide. 00:13:15
I'm sorry. 00:13:20
Submitted a bid to provide EMS protection to at the appropriate amount of ambulances and staff members, as well as the appropriate 00:13:26
certification level as the county has requested them, if we can put that temporary solution into place today. 00:13:32
For the next 1-2 or even three years, that should give sufficient time to establish funding, purchase equipment, hire employees, 00:13:39
establish standard operating procedures, and provide training to the employees. 00:13:45
At the end of this temporary solution contract, we should then be ready to step up to the plate and hit a home run for emergency 00:13:51
medical services in this county. 00:13:55
Thank you. All right. Thank you. 00:13:59
I have a mark again or gin. 00:14:02
It's hard G, OK? 00:14:06
Well, yeah, I probably blew it. Yeah. Mr. Martin again. Well, I've got another energy on here, so I'll get it next time, maybe we 00:14:08
may be related. 00:14:13
4012 Glenwood Way. I have a Sellersburg mailing address, but that's the post office. I lived in New Albany Township. 00:14:20
I'm a retiree. I've lived in a number of communities through my working career. I think I'm in house #9 right now. 00:14:28
Fire based EMS is the standard I'm used to seeing. 00:14:35
Seeing it work very well. 00:14:38
I just want to state a few reasons why I would be personally in support of fire based EMS. I don't know if we can get there now, 00:14:40
but I'm certainly in favor of it as a as a permanent solution. 00:14:44
For one thing, very large portion of your EMS calls of your emergency calls, and when one calls. 00:14:50
They require rescue services and they require medical treatment, so you got fire and EMS are going to the scene anyway. 00:14:56
Second point. 00:15:04
Your fire departments are already strategically located through your county for fast response time, and here's a national standard 00:15:05
for that. 00:15:08
You would also provide stability for your EMS staff, which you don't have today. Right now you've got a revolving door. I think 00:15:13
people have alluded to a revolving door of private service providers. 00:15:19
Which means that people are jumping ship from provider to provider. Provider you have no career stability. 00:15:25
So basically you get that stability of service if you base it on a fire based system for the county. 00:15:31
You also get a better work environment. You only somebody sitting at an ambulance under a bridge waiting for a call. 00:15:36
You got facilities, you've got a standard pay structure, you've got benefits. 00:15:42
Probably a career ladder that makes it easier to recruit and retain skilled EMS personnel, which I understand are very much in 00:15:47
short supply in this nation. 00:15:51
And I will understand why. 00:15:56
No, I couldn't do. 00:15:59
Another thing, the final point is bringing what is clearly a public service agency under the full control of our county government 00:16:00
will provide some very much needed transparency and accountability and following the news, and I'm sure you are. 00:16:06
That's a problem right now. I'm I'm almost ashamed of my party affiliation right now, the way things did. 00:16:13
I'm done. Actually, you did send us an e-mail earlier in the week too. You have the same individual. Thank you for that. Well, it 00:16:20
was well thought out and I appreciate you taking the time to do that. 00:16:25
All right. Thank you, Mr. Jim Freiberger. 00:16:31
Hello Jim Fry, Burger County Council Member, Floyd Knobs District. 00:16:40
Wrote down some notes, I didn't miss anything here. 00:16:46
I've been talking with the residents of Lafayette Township specifically on current EMS issues. 00:16:49
I have not found one person that I've talked to that does not favor a fire based EMS service through Hollander Fire District. 00:16:56
Since we live in a more rural area, response times for emergencies are very critical. 00:17:03
Public safety is the top priority for the Hollander Fire District and they have proven themselves to be multiple, reliable and 00:17:08
efficient alternative for our residents. 00:17:12
They will be dedicated responding to our emergency calls. 00:17:18
They're not trying to generate additional business or service with their staff or vehicles making other non-emergency 00:17:21
transportation runs. 00:17:25
I have discussed, I have reviewed and discussed the Highlander Fire District proposal and feel very comfortable with them being 00:17:30
able to implement this service. 00:17:34
And a reasonable timeline for the current deadline that that's approaching? 00:17:38
And distance to that, there are more affordable alternative compared to America Pro proposal. 00:17:43
And not even considering the reliability factors or response times. 00:17:49
As far as new Chapel proposal should definitely be declined. 00:17:55
They have not met requirements needed to provide the service the county needs. 00:17:59
We have no audited financials. 00:18:04
They had, they don't have a definitive timeline on meeting the services that we've asked for within this time period. 00:18:07
Even with the contract that I've read, even with the penalties of it. 00:18:15
Allowable in their contract, they could still charge us at the $600,000 a year no matter what kind of service they provide. 00:18:19
I'm not sure what you're going to do as a group today and your decision. 00:18:26
But you should not be going against the Mississippi board recommendation. 00:18:32
And the overwhelming support the Floyd County residents of not approving either private contractor. 00:18:36
Proposal for the emergency medical aim and services. 00:18:42
And as a County Council member, I personally will not vote to support any funding for a new EMS service contract with the county 00:18:46
if it's not fire based. 00:18:50
Appreciate your time. 00:18:54
Thank you. 00:18:56
The Chris writer or a reefer? That is OK, you signed it twice an art. Thank you, Sir. Don't vote for new tablet. Mr. Shawn 00:18:59
Bostock. 00:19:03
Good evening, Sean Bostock from Out of County and County Business Interest's. 00:19:13
New Chapel failed to meet the requirements of the FRP. 00:19:20
Mr. Cable, you you brought up that during the last meeting that I attended that. 00:19:24
We couldn't talk about fire based EMS. 00:19:30
Because that wasn't within the realm. So with that same argument, if they didn't meet the recommendations, they should be off the 00:19:34
table. I am pro. 00:19:38
Firebase DMS. 00:19:43
It is obtainable. In 65 days we've seen far worse situations be resolved quick. 00:19:44
I'd be. 00:19:51
For time limits for comfort factor, I'd be open to a hybrid system. 00:19:53
You know, splitting it once you accept a contract. Like you all said, numerous times there's negotiation time. 00:19:58
Negotiate mayor pro to handle. 00:20:04
The New Albany Township district. Give Lafayette or I'm sorry, Highlander at the top of the hill. 00:20:07
They're kind of already doing it anyways, because New Chapel is always late. 00:20:12
Kind of like what their RFP, you know? 00:20:15
Just they didn't show so. 00:20:19
That's an option. 00:20:23
But if you all revolt against and go rogue against. 00:20:25
The recommendation of a very tenured. 00:20:30
Very well educated EMS Advisory Board. 00:20:32
You deserve to lose your elections. 00:20:37
My shirt reads. Are you ready to commit political suicide today? 00:20:40
If you go against the EMS Advisory Board and you go against the public. 00:20:46
Outpouring. 00:20:51
Your commitment? Political suicide? So. 00:20:53
Do the right thing today. 00:20:56
All right, thank you. And then we have a Nathan, you must be a hard GT, right? 00:20:59
I was hoping maybe a softie. I thought maybe we could use some gin around here at some point. 00:21:04
See me in some interesting positions in my lifetime, Captain Gim. 00:21:10
4000 Professional Firefighters 5426, we'll start by first say thank you Corey for supporting the IFF initiative. I really 00:21:17
appreciate that. We differ a little bit on our opinion how to execute that plan. I would like to remind you that EMS the public 00:21:22
safety function which is Corey Payne's point as well, I want to bring it fully into the county. I don't want our county funds 00:21:28
leaving the county, the taxpayer money leaving the county for a profit margin for a corporation. 00:21:34
There is no profit, EMS. Why are we doing that? 00:21:41
We can be staffed on the first day. 00:21:45
We put a hiring request for people asking for information we received, as of 6 hours ago, 18 applicants. I don't know the division 00:21:46
of what positions they're in, but they are members from Oklahoma, Fern Creek, Louisville departments. Many of those reside in our 00:21:53
community or proximal to our community in Clark County. I personally know a few of them, not very well. 00:21:59
I also think that we should follow the results of the previous EMS statements. This agency paid for some time ago. I'm not sure 00:22:06
how long ago that was. I know maybe you were in office at that point. There's some really great information that study and it's 00:22:12
older now. I mean it's it's been out for a few years. I think we should look back at that data and see what they said and. 00:22:18
The IFF is backed us fully. 00:22:57
The state union has backed IFF operations as well. That's their plan. The master plan, which is Firebase DMS. What we're asking 00:22:59
for is you work with Highlander on this. 00:23:04
We're adaptable. We're not under contract with you. If you go with our plan, if it's not sufficient, ask, ask us. We'll step up 00:23:09
two minutes. Give me one more thing. I would like to ask the EMS steering committee board be kept in place. 00:23:15
I've been to New Chapel's district with any DMS. 00:23:54
I've done EMS in the entire county. 00:23:57
I pray that work for you. Thank you. 00:23:59
Thank you before proceeding. 00:24:01
I just want to answer one of your concerns, which is that if you go back to the inception of the EMS board. 00:24:05
It has always been the intent, and I believe still is the intent for that to remain intact. 00:24:11
And one of our stated goals was that. 00:24:16
After we had a new contract in place that that body would serve in as an ongoing function of evaluating incoming data. 00:24:20
And Quality assurance at a minimum. 00:24:28
So that. 00:24:31
Jive with your memory. 00:24:33
All right. Thank you. 00:24:35
So with that, that closes public comment for this meeting and I want to move on to a discussion among the Commissioners. 00:24:37
I think it would be worthwhile if our discussion is kind of motion driven so to speak. So I I don't know whether anyone has a 00:24:45
motion out of the gate. I'll look to you first John, if you. 00:24:51
I like that discussion for a motion. 00:24:58
Well, we can have discussion if we have to bring something forward Northern for there to be a discussion. So if you don't have a 00:25:01
motion then then I have. 00:25:05
OK, I have one and let me get some clarification. So what was the recommendation from the Ms. advisory? 00:25:10
Board, the first recommendation was for us to put an RFP out that had all the criteria that we have. So again, if you want to make 00:25:17
them, no, no. I'm trying to understand what was the recommendation from the meeting last week. 00:25:24
From the Mississippi Advisory Board, well, you know what it was OK. It was to reject both. 00:25:31
Proposals. So would you like to bring that forward as a motion? That's what I want to clarify. OK. 00:25:36
My motion is that we follow. 00:25:41
The recommendation of the Mississippi Advisory Board. 00:25:44
And three. 00:25:47
That has three physicians on there with over 110 years experience. 00:25:49
In emergency medicine. But that is my. That is my. 00:25:54
Motion that we follow the recommendation of the Mississippi Advisory Board. 00:25:59
And reject both RFPs. 00:26:04
So I have. 00:26:06
To reject both RFP's based upon the recommendations of the RFP Advisory Board from last week. 00:26:08
Exactly. 00:26:16
I'll entertain a second on that motion. 00:26:19
All right. There's no second on that motion. 00:26:24
So I would like to bring forward a motion to decline. 00:26:27
To pursue the New Chapel RFP. 00:26:33
I do want to thank them. 00:26:38
I think that. 00:26:41
The new administration has done what they can. I think they're under a lot of, as was said earlier, baggage. 00:26:42
I wish them well. I hope that they survive this endeavor. But. 00:26:50
I think it they basically disqualified themselves by not. 00:26:56
Bringing forward all in the financial material that was necessary. 00:27:00
And required during the RFP process. 00:27:04
So I will look for a second for that motion. I'll second. 00:27:06
OK, I have a motion and a second to decline the RFP from New Chapel. All in favor, aye, aye. 00:27:10
All right. 00:27:18
Any further motions at this point in time? Yeah, I'd like to make a motion that we continue negotiations with the mayor pro 00:27:20
subject to the County Council's approving of funding for the ambulance service. 00:27:25
I will second that. 00:27:31
I move to continue negotiations with Mayor Pro, subject to the County Council's approval of funding for the ambulance service. 00:27:37
And I second that. 00:27:43
So we won't have a discussion on that before taking a vote. 00:27:45
I'll go with who would like to go first on that. Go ahead, He made the motion. 00:27:51
Yeah, it's gonna take a few minutes. I got a few things to say. 00:27:55
Good evening everyone. There's a lot of misinformation floating around the community in regards to emergency medical services in 00:27:59
Floyd County. 00:28:03
As the chair of the EMS Advisory Board, I have an obligation to try and clearly convey to the citizens of Floyd County. 00:28:08
What we have been working on for over half of a year. 00:28:14
I will break this down into three portions. One, general information and education. 00:28:17
To the current RFP process. 00:28:22
And three, the future of EMS in Floyd County. 00:28:25
Before I dive into this issue locally, I would like to pass on some data that I think is important for everyone to know. 00:28:28
Indiana is a state with roughly 3.8 million people. 00:28:35
There are 92 different counties. 00:28:38
With a multitude of different EMS models ranging from fire based, hospital based, municipal. 00:28:40
And private, according to the state of Indiana chief Medical director Doctor Eric Yazel, the state believes the actual number of 00:28:46
paramedics working the streets in that capacity. 00:28:51
Is all of about 1400. 00:28:56
Those numbers tell me two. 00:28:59
First EMS in Indiana is in crisis mode. 00:29:02
Those numbers are beyond dangerously low. Secondly, with all those different types of systems out there, the number is still 1400. 00:29:06
It takes a very special person to work emergency medical services and even more special person to make a career out of it. 00:29:16
According to the National Institute of Health, the burnout rate for emergency medical services is about 60%. 00:29:23
And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, EMS providers are 1.39 times. 00:29:29
More likely to die by suicide than the public. 00:29:35
It's a tough job. These workers deserve our respect no matter what type of agency that they work for. 00:29:38
Locally we have our own unique issues. 00:29:46
In Floyd and Clark counties, there has been 0 paramedic training courses offered since 2012. 00:29:48
That's 12. 00:29:55
It is no wonder our region is lacking in paramedics. 00:29:57
Now, occasionally you can catch a paramedic class in Harrison or Scott County. 00:30:00
But that can be difficult for some. 00:30:05
I can personally attest to the difficulties of traveling out of county for training. 00:30:08
During the mid 1990s I was working third shift on a MIDI unit myself. 00:30:12
And at the end of my shift. 00:30:16
I would have to drive to Washington County for training. 00:30:18
It was tough. 00:30:21
And I can only imagine how much tougher would be if I had a family at home. 00:30:22
On several occasions, I have met with the staff of Ivy Tech in an attempt to restart the paramedic program at the Sellersburg 00:30:27
campus our campus. 00:30:30
I have even began conversations with administrators at IUS to see if they would be interested. 00:30:34
This process is still ongoing, but I am hopeful that it will soon bear fruit. 00:30:39
In order to increase the paramedics in Floyd County, we have to increase training opportunities locally. 00:30:44
Next, I would like to address the building of our current RFP. 00:30:51
I began by ruining reviewing our current EMS contract and even the RFP's that were sent out in 2022. 00:30:56
The current contract signed in 2017 and later amended in 2019 to add an additional ambulance during the hours of 8:30 AM to 6:30 00:31:04
PM. 00:31:08
The original term with New Chapel EMS ran from May 31st of 2017 to June 30th of 2020. 00:31:13
What does that mean? 00:31:21
Our contract has auto renewed for the last four years and there hasn't been any changes to that contract since the amendment. 00:31:22
The subsidy rate in 2019 has been 2000. I'm sorry, $220,000 a year. 00:31:30
Despite the contract expiring on June 30th of 2020, our current provider has not raised that subsidy rate once. 00:31:37
However, last year New Chapel did advise the commissioners that they would not be able to auto renew that rate any longer. 00:31:45
On September 20th of 2022, Commissioner Shellenberger, Corellers and Kamer issued a new RFP for Emergency Ambulance service. 00:31:53
There were two respondents, AMR and New Chapel EMS. 00:32:01
The submission from AMR was for five years at a price beginning at roughly $1.5 million and steadily rising to a price of. 00:32:05
Roughly $1.7 million. 00:32:13
The price for New Chapel EMS offer also offered a five year contract with the price of three ambulances for $766,000 annually or 4 00:32:16
ambulances at $988,000 annually. 00:32:23
Despite sending out those RFP's and a recommendation from the old EMS Advisory Board, no changes were made and the contract once 00:32:30
again auto renewed at the same price. 00:32:35
Of $220,000 negotiated in the 2019 amendment. 00:32:40
My analysis of the current contract was that it was way too loose. 00:32:46
There was number expectation on standards of care. Strategic deployment was mentioned, yet never outlined ever in those units 00:32:50
truly dedicated for emergency calls only. 00:32:54
Our contract was in need of a real overhaul. 00:33:00
So the new EMS Advisory Board went to work in July of 2023. 00:33:02
Our process began with a simple question. 00:33:07
What is it that Floyd County ultimately needed from its emergency medical services? 00:33:10
Not whose name was going to be on the side of the box. 00:33:15
Not who was going to run it. 00:33:17
Just what is it that we need from our EMS system? 00:33:19
The board went to work gathering data new and old, reviewing different standards, and even had doctor Eric Hazel in to could 00:33:23
discuss different EMS issues statewide. 00:33:28
These meetings were run more like a think tank, with members gathered in a circle and not ran like a typical board meeting. 00:33:33
Even though the meetings were very informal, they were still open to the public for all to see. 00:33:39
During our RFP building period, legal troubles surrounding former New Chapel CEO Jamie Knoll began to emerge. 00:33:45
Floyd County commissioners were presented with a possibility that EMS services in Floyd County could cease if the current 00:33:53
provider. 00:33:56
We're gonna be shut down by the state. 00:34:00
To get in front of this issue, the commissioners immediately met with two other local service providers that could possibly help 00:34:02
if needed. 00:34:05
Only one of those services said they could take on Floyd County if needed quickly, and that was the mayor pro EMS. 00:34:09
Even though Floyd County had a detailed backup plan in place, the commissioners decided to increase the number of EMS board 00:34:15
meetings until we were satisfied that RFP had met our needs. 00:34:20
This RFP was the collaboration of all board members. 00:34:26
This was not light at the board's feet. 00:34:30
It was tailor made by this board. 00:34:32
On December 5th of 2023, RFP's were sent out forbid. 00:34:35
And some of the highlights of those RFP's are 324 hour. 00:34:39
Ambulances with 124 hour Paramedic response card dedicated for emergency calls only in Floyd County. 00:34:44
A detailed A detailed strategic deployment plan to include ambulances in Georgetown Township. 00:34:52
Lafayette Township. 00:34:58
In New Albany Township. 00:34:59
The use of AVL and GPS devices capable of live feed data. 00:35:01
Directly into the Floyd County 911 dispatch center. 00:35:06
The EMS Advisory Board reconvened on February 13th of 2024 after receiving two bids, one from the Mayor Pro EMS at a price of 00:35:10
roughly 1.5 annually million annually. 00:35:16
And New Chapel EMS with a sliding scale beginning at $960,000. 00:35:22
And up to a little over $1 million annually. 00:35:26
After the meeting, points of clarification were made to both respondents with guidance from our County Attorney. 00:35:31
These points of clarification were distributed to the EMS Advisory Board and all members of Floyd County Council. 00:35:37
It was clear amongst the Commissioners that the EMS advisory meeting scheduled for March 12th would be for the Board to make a 00:35:45
recommendation based off the two submissions presented. 00:35:50
On February 20th of 2024, it came to my attention that I was scheduled to be. 00:35:55
Representing Floyd County Commissioners at the Purdue University Rd. School. 00:36:01
And that I would miss the meeting. 00:36:04
I immediately notified my vice chair that he would be running the meeting and the board was to make a recommendation on which of 00:36:06
the two bids they wanted the commissioners to pursue. 00:36:10
On the morning of March 12th of 2024, my time at Purdue was cut short by a family emergency. 00:36:15
Later that evening I was shocked to hear that no recommendation had been made but rather 1/3 option introduced and a special 00:36:22
meeting had been called to hear a presentation from Highlander Fire Protection District on March 21st of 2024. 00:36:28
As the chairman of the Floyd County EMS Board, I was totally unaware that another option would be introduced at this meeting. 00:36:36
During the special meeting on March 21st of 2024, Commissioner Knable informed the Board that our attorney advised the 00:36:45
Commissioners would be unable to entertain any other option. 00:36:49
Unless the commissioners rejected the current bids. 00:36:55
However, that did not impede the EMS Advisory Board from hearing the presentation from a Highlander Fire Protection District. 00:36:58
By the end of the meeting, the board voted to request the commissioners reject the RFP's. 00:37:04
And move forward with Highlanders. 00:37:09
Today I have to make a choice. 00:37:13
Follow the EMS Advisory Board's recommendation for rejecting the bids. 00:37:16
Or the commissioners not following the board's recommendation and move forward with a provider that submitted a bid in the 00:37:20
appropriate manner and in the appropriate time frame. 00:37:24
I was not in favor of rejecting the bids, although each of our board members brings something special to the table. 00:37:30
And I respect their professional qualifications. 00:37:36
It does not mean I have to like how this process played out since the March 12th meeting. 00:37:39
As the chair of the EMS Advisory Board, I was never advised by the vice Chair or any other board member that there was a plan to 00:37:44
introduce a whole new option into the mix at the 11th hour. 00:37:49
I believe several board members were not forthcoming with the public. 00:37:56
And that efforts were already that efforts were already underway to explore a true County Fire system with an EMS element. 00:37:59
I do not believe it was appropriate for two Members. 00:38:08
That brought forward the motion and 2nd to reject the current bids. 00:38:11
Voted for an option that directly benefits an organization in which they both represent. 00:38:14
As someone who regularly conducts research rights, proposals, policies and procedures. 00:38:21
I do not believe for one second. 00:38:27
That this operational plan that is 23 pages long. 00:38:29
With a fee schedule and established billing service was crafted in six days. 00:38:32
This is a plan that has been in the works for some time. 00:38:37
Plans submitted by Highlander did not meet the basic criteria that was outlined in our RFP. 00:38:41
It did not cover all of Floyd County. 00:38:47
The Highlander plane utilizes 2 1/2 ambulances, not 3. 00:38:49
It does not meet our strategic deployment template outlined in the RFP. 00:38:54
The department would be utilizing at least one unit that was scheduled for replacement a year ago as a primary unit. 00:38:58
To top it all off, this morning I called the Indiana Department of Homeland Security Emergency Medical Services Division. 00:39:06
According to Jason Smith. 00:39:12
The District 9 representative. 00:39:14
That paperwork this. 00:39:16
At the time, nothing has been submitted by Halander Fire Protection District. 00:39:18
I was notified at 2:00 that that submission had now been received. 00:39:23
Jason Smith's watching on the video, by the way, if you wanted to know. 00:39:31
You know, I felt like that was a little bit of a misrepresentation. 00:39:41
By Highlanders saying that in a public meeting. 00:39:44
That an ALS certification was imminent. 00:39:47
When it clearly was not. 00:39:51
Is this the future system you see for Floyd County? 00:39:54
I don't well start as a transparent, engaging process that begin began in July of 2023. 00:39:56
Has been hijacked by behind the Scene collaborators making last Minute Power Place. 00:40:03
The introduction of a new system at the 11th hour, with board members voting in favor of a system that directly benefits an agency 00:40:09
they receive represent that doesn't even meet the basic criteria that all the board members created. 00:40:15
And what I can see now is a misrepresentation that was made in a public meeting on an agency certification status. 00:40:22
Ladies and gentlemen, this is a perfect example of the type of deals that we need to avoid. 00:40:29
This is not honest and it is not transparent. 00:40:34
Floyd County deserves better. 00:40:37
If other professionals want to stake their personal integrity and professional reputation. 00:40:39
On a plane like this, that is clearly their choice. I will not. 00:40:44
So what does the future VMS look like in Floyd County? 00:40:48
To be honest. 00:40:52
At this point I'm really unsure. 00:40:53
I could have told you what it was looking like 2 weeks ago. 00:40:55
After the RP's were sent out, I spoke out to reach out to Chief Manta, Chief Klein. 00:40:58
And New Albany Township Board President Darrell Bills. 00:41:04
Out of courtesy, I notified them I would be working with Georgetown and Highlander unions. 00:41:07
Seeking to conduct a GIS study. 00:41:12
As a 24 year member of the International Association of Firefighters. 00:41:15
I knew that one of the benefits of being in the IAF was they were able to conduct GIS studies at no cost, saving taxpayers. 00:41:20
Thousands of dollars in giving us real, actionable data to either support or deny the creation of a true County Fire department 00:41:29
with an EMS base. 00:41:33
A plan that would have been collaborative in nature, generating the data we needed to either move forward with. 00:41:40
The fire based system or having to change course. 00:41:45
And examine the standalone county EMS system. 00:41:48
Well, unfortunately a lot of things has happened since the meeting on the 21st. 00:41:52
On the morning of March 22nd, New Albany Township Board President Darrell Mills was notified by Mayor Gahan that the City of New 00:41:56
Albany is unable to assist them with fire coverage at this time. 00:42:01
Blowing a massive hole in the Highlander plane in less than 24 hours. 00:42:07
Was the conversation about the county not covering that area with EMS during our meeting a contributing factor in that decision? 00:42:11
I don't know. 00:42:18
But I could imagine it didn't help efforts much. 00:42:19
On March 25th, I spoke to Georgetown Professional Firefighters Local 5393 President Corey Payne. 00:42:22
During the conversation, I was advised they no longer wish to move forward with Highlander. 00:42:30
On the GIS. 00:42:35
What was meant to be a collaborative effort was being beginning to look more like a hostile takeover. 00:42:37
In closing, I have no interest of playing who is the biggest subject matter expert in the room. 00:42:44
But I will close with these remarks. 00:42:50
1A Professional department should never offer to provide services in another professional department's jurisdiction without the 00:42:52
courtesy of at least a phone call. 00:42:57
I do not know of any department that would tolerate this kind of behavior. 00:43:04
Two, while it is true that Indiana is not an NFPA state. 00:43:08
It is an OSHA state. 00:43:13
And if there's a catastrophe catastrophe on your fire ground, I can assure you that NFPA standards are what will be used during 00:43:15
the course of their investigation. 00:43:19
If you do not know that, I would highly recommend that you avoid giving any expert fire service advice. Thank you. 00:43:24
Thank you. 00:43:33
John, do you have any comments before we go to a vote on this? 00:43:37
Egoic comment I'm gonna exercise my. 00:43:41
Privileged as president to comment last. OK. 00:43:44
Well, since you found out on March 22nd about New Albany, I wish that you had shared that with me, because I didn't. I knew 00:43:48
nothing about it until tonight. 00:43:52
So thank you very much on that part of it. Talk about transparency. Well, in all fairness, I've been dealing with the death of the 00:43:58
family. I understand. FYI, I understand. 00:44:02
But we can also text back and forth. 00:44:08
There are a lot of things here. We talk about a contract, a three-year contract with. 00:44:11
With one of the provider well with Maripro now because your chance will got voted down. 00:44:17
Why you need three years? 00:44:23
Why do you need three years? In fact, we got an e-mail from Chief Banta, the gentleman that runs Scott County. 00:44:25
Nick. 00:44:32
Yes, I called him after after your e-mail. 00:44:35
And asked him, I said why do you need three years? And he said you don't need three years. 00:44:37
He said maybe a year and I said, well, what would you do in that one year that you, you know you've if you've got the? 00:44:42
You got the equipment, you've got the staff. Why do you have to run in parallel? 00:44:49
And you said, well, you know, they could, they could provide, take care of the overrun and all that. The point is this, you don't 00:44:53
need three years. 00:44:57
One year is sufficient. The contract the RFP that we that we the specs that we put out was for a three-year contract. 00:45:01
So if the majorities and the commissioner decided to go with Ameripro? 00:45:09
We have to renegotiate that that that that contract for from three years down to one year. So if you're doing that then that opens 00:45:16
it up to negotiate with other parties as well because the specs were for three years. So why, why give that give that provider? 00:45:25
That privilege, but then I'll reach out to other other ones that that they want to provide that service. 00:45:35
Also too right now. 00:45:46
We have if we have a medical emergency in any of the the the townships. 00:45:48
A ambulances or dispatched from the fire houses or Georgetown case. 00:45:56
A brush truck. 00:46:02
OK, that is working right now And when you look at the response times, they're far, far less than than with the with our current 00:46:03
provider. So we've already got that in place, we've got, we've got the locations that's a matter now the County Council providing 00:46:10
funding in order for the in order for the for them to to staff up. 00:46:17
And you heard Captain again talk tonight. They had, what, 17 or 18 people that are interested. So people say, well, you can't, 00:46:25
it's not going to work. It's not gonna work. Well, you know, several times we have talked about this and Jason, you made the 00:46:30
comment that it gets to a point where it just gets too heavy. 00:46:36
It's too heavy, folks. It's too heavy. 00:46:43
You know, and that's when you need to start looking inside. And I and I and I brought this up, we need to have a conversation with 00:46:45
the commissioners and with the fire departments, so that way we we, we can kind of work through this thing. But nothing's ever 00:46:53
happened. We needed a workshop. That has never happened. My fear is this is that. 00:47:00
If the majority of the commissioners vote for America Pro for a three-year contract, it's going to go to the County Council. 00:47:08
And I don't have tea leaves, but from from listening to two joint meetings. 00:47:14
I don't believe they're going to approve. 00:47:20
And I'll tell you what, I was on the County Council for 10 years and if someone came to me and said, hey. 00:47:22
You give us a stipend for one year and you won't see us. 00:47:27
Again, or we'll come back to you for three more years at 1.4 million. I mean to me it's a. 00:47:31
You know the County Council was already in what, $1,000,000 deficit? 00:47:38
And now you want to add. Now you want to add another $1.4 million or $1.2 million on top of that. 00:47:43
It's not going to happen. OK. This is a way that we can we can migrate to a far based EMS. 00:47:49
The first year. 00:47:57
They would be doing the billing. 00:48:00
And then that would that would be put into A to a non reverting fund. So the second year you have that money available. So let's 00:48:02
talk about revenue. 00:48:06
I reached out to it was Jim Freeman. 00:48:15
He is with ambulance billing service. I've talked to him a couple times back in 2019 and then in 2023. 00:48:19
And I believe they bill for. 00:48:27
I think 15 or 20 different counties. 00:48:30
Here in in in in Indiana. So they have a lot of credibility. 00:48:33
But he said back in 2019, he said now this is a highly conservative approach. 00:48:39
In 2019 $1.2 million. 00:48:44
In billing. 00:48:48
They look at all the. 00:48:49
Demographics and all that. So when I talked to him back in August of this past year. 00:48:52
He said medical reimbursement increases and services utilized by 6.5% of the population annually. 00:48:57
A net revenue is established at $1.5 billion, he said. It is later if it is later determined the annual call rate. 00:49:04
Volume exceeds 2700. The estimate is subject to revision. 00:49:13
We have over 3000 calls. We did in one year. We had over 3000 calls. He anticipates $1.5 million. 00:49:17
And that's conservative. 00:49:26
OK, so if the County Council will provide the stipend? 00:49:28
For that first. 00:49:34
And they do the billing the second year they were fully funded because I know someone brought up at the meeting the other night. 00:49:36
The the numbers don't jive well, they do jive OK. 00:49:43
And the worst case is this. 00:49:46
So let's say you need $100,000. They're coming to the County Council for $100,000 instead of $1.2 million. 00:49:48
And you know, and someone made a comment tonight and to me it just kind of boils down to this. 00:49:56
Is if we go with a provider, contract, provider. 00:50:02
At the end of the year. 00:50:07
All you have to show for it is a. 00:50:09
But if we go with our own fire based EMS, you've got, you've got, you've got equipment. 00:50:13
You've got staff, you have dedicated staff that they're not going to want to move someplace else, they're going to want to stay in 00:50:20
these communities because this is where they live. 00:50:24
This is where their kids go to school. This is where they, the families are involved. You have a commitment from those people. But 00:50:29
if you go with a provider, you know you're going to have constant turnover and all that, but you pay them well. You're going to 00:50:35
retain the people and you're going to and you're going to, you're going to invest in the assets in Floyd County. 00:50:42
In the fire departments. 00:50:48
In the people, in the employees and on top of that, you know we have mutual aid agreements with, with, with surrounding counties. 00:50:50
And if. 00:50:59
If a county has a great EMS service, it only benefits, it helps to benefit the other ones around them, you know. So we need to get 00:51:00
Floyd County to that level. So that way we can all be a partnership together in Southern Indiana. 00:51:07
You know public safety has three legs. You've got, you got, you got police, you got fire. 00:51:15
And you have EMS and right now EMS we only we only fund $230,000 a year for free. Ms. in Fire I think is around 4 to $6 million 00:51:20
and police is what about $8 million I believe. 00:51:27
Less than 1/4 of $1,000,000 is what we is what we fund for for EMS and Employee County. 00:51:34
We can do better than that. And at the end of the day, we go to Firebase EMS. We go away from the provider. I've heard, I've heard 00:51:41
we've had 11 providers here in Floyd County over the many years. OK. 00:51:47
But if you keep, if you keep doing the same thing, you're going to have the same, you're going to get the the same results. We 00:51:54
need to go with something different. We need to go with a fire based EMS. 00:51:59
We need to invest in in the county, in in the fire departments. 00:52:05
And as I mentioned, EMS is one leg and fire department is another. You strengthen those legs as well whenever you do that. 00:52:10
Let me check my note here and I have one more thing to say. 00:52:20
Oh, one thing too, Jason, you had mentioned about the. 00:52:28
Highlander providing their operations plan well, and unfortunately you weren't at the meeting. 00:52:33
But elegant Abel. 00:52:38
Reached out and asked Highlander to provide this operation plan. So it wasn't like it was totally out of the blue. No, we had 00:52:42
asked them to do that within a week. And then then then we decided we needed by Tuesday because the bee was on a Thursday, so it 00:52:48
was not brought out of the blue, it was asked for. 00:52:55
And they worked on this thing and they and they and they presented it as we had asked them to do at the previous meeting. 00:53:02
Thank you. 00:53:10
All right. Thank you. I have a few. 00:53:12
Comments probably a little bit briefer than those. Before we come to vote on this, I want to begin by just acknowledging that, 00:53:14
unlike a lot of my critics, I don't have all the answers. This is a really difficult problem. 00:53:21
Is probably the biggest issue before us, certainly since I've been a Commissioner and I really can conceive a few that would be 00:53:28
more important than this. 00:53:32
And I've tried to apply logic to what has at times been a very emotional subject. 00:53:36
We did undergo an RFP process. We followed our EMS Advisory Board in creating RFPs to meet the needs of the entire. 00:53:44
County excluding the citizens of New Albany proper. 00:53:52
We received one incomplete RFP that lacked financials and that was turned away tonight. 00:53:56
We did receive one that satisfied all of our conditions. 00:54:04
During what I believed was a a information gathering. 00:54:09
Time, I really refrain from comment at our EMS Advisory Board meetings, as did John and as did Jason, because we really were in 00:54:16
listening mode. 00:54:20
But I called upon a lot of connections I made during my seven years with the New Albany City Council. 00:54:24
I spoke with several elected officials in New Albany. 00:54:31
Police personnel, fire personnel, dispatch personnel. 00:54:34
All spoke very, very favorably, without exception of the service that they've received and are receiving from Ameripro. 00:54:40
These discussions all took place, by the way, in a backdrop. 00:54:47
With several fire personnel who've been around for decades. 00:54:51
Who told me of the. 00:54:56
2013 vote from their. 00:54:58
To remove fire based EMS from their contract. 00:55:02
For various reasons that I won't get into tonight. 00:55:06
But they have never revisited that since 2013. 00:55:09
In the midst of these considerations of discussion of fire based EMS. 00:55:13
Did come to the surface. We did ask for information during that, as we said. 00:55:17
I'm not sure how long those discussions have been taking place prior to that information being brought forward. 00:55:24
But we started to receive information on that concretely in mid March. 00:55:30
With regards to fire based EMS, I think that everyone involved in this process is very, very well-intentioned. We have incredible 00:55:36
people in all of our individual departments and I believe that fire based EMS holds much potential promise. 00:55:43
But I do not believe that we can bring everything together that we need to bring together in 65 days. 00:55:51
You might be able to hire. 00:55:56
12/14/16 individuals in that amount of time. You might be able to train them. You might be able to certify them. 00:55:58
But if you can pull that off, I don't think you're going to have seasoned professional veterans out there on the making those 00:56:05
runs. 00:56:09
On one. 00:56:12
We don't have a funding source in place. 00:56:14
In short on that, I think the public has had an opportunity to speak up and will continue to have input on that. Certainly the 00:56:17
firefighters have. 00:56:22
At least the ones that kind of put the proposal together for Highland. 00:56:27
Even though I was told by Darryl Mills and by Georgetown representatives that they weren't brought to the table for this. 00:56:31
Who we haven't heard from and that we need to to make this happen, whether we want to admit it or not. Or the attorneys and the 00:56:39
accountants and the actuaries who are going to be responsible for putting policies in place to help us with the increased 00:56:44
liabilities that we're going to accrue with all this. 00:56:49
The largest issue that I have with that process is that when that plan was presented. 00:56:55
It excluded. 00:57:01
Coverage for New Albany Township. 00:57:02
And parts of Franklin Township, leaving them unprotected. 00:57:04
So even if we could get all that together in 65 days, now we have to scramble. 00:57:09
To get. 00:57:14
For the largest percentage of our population. 00:57:16
So you know, to conclude, I'm personally committed to the process of fully vetting a fire based EMS option. 00:57:19
But only if all of our county departments come to the table in the spirit of mutual agreement, and that we can consider a 00:57:27
countrywide EMS director at the end of the day to manage that system. 00:57:31
That EMS. 00:57:37
Manager, director would be answerable to the commissioners, were answerable to the voters. 00:57:39
So, as was stated earlier tonight, I don't consider my actions political suicide. I've always worried more about being worthy of 00:57:45
reelection rather than getting reelected. So that's where I am on that. 00:57:52
So to that end, you know, I would propose that we put a task force together to begin the work in earnest. 00:58:00
On fire based EMS to see if it's actually feasible financially. 00:58:07
I know that the numbers. 00:58:13
On a balance sheet look good, but the ultimate source for all of this money is the taxpayer. 00:58:16
So even if it's out of that, the County Council and commissioners purview those districts are going to see an increase in their 00:58:21
levy to pay for those services. 00:58:25
So in the interim, which I would hope would be one to two years, I support entering negotiations with the mayor pro four one to 00:58:29
two year contract. 00:58:33
It's not the cheapest solution, but I think it's a very reasonable price to pay to restore public trust and confidence. 00:58:39
In a service that has been rocked the last several months. 00:58:45
By all of these issues that have gone on with former Sheriff Jamie Noel, unfortunately that has tainted New Chapel and again. 00:58:50
I applaud their efforts to try to separate themselves from that and again hope they do well in the future. 00:58:59
So I'm hopeful and I ask that our County Council faithfully considered this option as soon as possible. I believe it is absolutely 00:59:06
the best solution at hand to ensure service and safety to all the people of Floyd County. 00:59:12
In the near term. 00:59:18
So with that. 00:59:21
I will call for a vote. 00:59:22
Do you want to restate your motion? 00:59:25
Oh gosh, I gotta do that again. 00:59:27
Yeah, I'll do it. 00:59:31
Just want to make sure I see it. 00:59:34
Correctly. 00:59:35
As I move to continue negotiations with the Mayor pro subject to the County Council's approval of funding the ambulance service. 00:59:37
All right. A second. All in favor? 00:59:44
Definitely no. 00:59:49
OK. All right. No further business before this board tonight I call for German. 00:59:51
So moved. 00:59:57
No. 01:00:00
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