Zion council approves ambulance-billing contract, declares vehicles surplus and OKs easement; personnel changes partly tabled

The Zion City Council on Sept. 2 approved a contract for ambulance billing services, declared several emergency vehicles surplus, and authorized acquisition of an easement for a water‑main project, while approving some personnel changes and tabling other staffing items to the next meeting.

The council voted unanimously to authorize a contract with Paramedic Billing Services, Inc., an Illinois-based company, for ambulance and fire billing services effective Jan. 1, 2026. Chief Justin Street, who presented the agreement, said the contract "includes a lower commission rate than we are currently paying and should mean increased revenue for the city." Street also provided the council with current charge amounts used to set billing: $2,317 for a standard ambulance call, $2,545 for a basic advanced call and $2,745 for an advanced (level‑2) call, while noting that actual collections are often reduced by Medicare, Medicaid and uninsured‑patient writeoffs.

The council also declared a 2012 Ford F550 ambulance (VIN ending in 192) surplus and authorized it for auction, and approved disposition of two high‑mileage police vehicles and donation of a 2016 Chevrolet Colorado described by the police chief as no longer viable to maintain. Police Chief Eric Barton said the…