DeKalb committee accepts $1.33 million from AMR, approves several contract changes and PTSD coverage; tire-dumping plan deferred

DeKalb County commissioners' IRPS committee on the meeting record accepted $1,325,250 in penalty payments from Metro Ambulance Services Inc., doing business as American Medical Response (AMR), and approved a set of contract adjustments and program actions affecting county departments.

The actions, taken by voice vote and unanimous consent on items brought before the committee, included a short extension of the county's pre-employment background-check contract, an increase to a beverages contract used by multiple departments, a no-cost affiliation agreement for paramedic clinical training, formal enrollment in a first-responder PTSD benefit program created by state law, approval of a Stonecrest-DeKalb memorandum of understanding tied to a SPLOST fire-station project, and a decision to defer a proposed county response to widespread illegal tire dumping for further study.

Why it matters: the AMR penalty payment and subsequent decision to place the funds into an existing line for service enhancement and subsidy affect how emergency medical services are funded and operated; the PTSD program enrollment implements a new state requirement that carries a county cost estimate; and the SPLOST-related station builds could change response coverage and insurance ratings for residents.

The meeting began with a request from county human resources staff to extend an existing contract for pre-employment background investigations through Aug. 31 while the county completes a new solicitation. "We're not asking for any additional funding. Just being proactive. We're in the tail end stages of our solicitation," Jadia Haynes, HR deputy director, told commissioners. The committee approved that change-of-term request.

A Fire Rescue item accepted $1,325,250 in penalty assessments from AMR for performance during 2023–2024. Fire Rescue staff said the penalties are assessed under multiple categories, chiefly quarterly response-time compliance across defined priority levels and for response times that exceed defined thresholds (for example, greater than 29 minutes, 59 seconds). The department asked that the checks be placed into the same fund used previously (from 2021–2022 penalty receipts) so the money can be applied to enhance service; staff said the fund has been used to subsidize AMR under the current extension. Commissioners asked whether the payment had already been received; staff confirmed they had the physical check and were taking action to formally accept it.

The committee approved a change order to extend and increase a beverages contract (contract number 1378111) — adding usage for the county's emergency management agency and increasing the total not-to-exceed amount to $71,000. Staff clarified the contract supplies water and sports drinks (Powerade/Gatorade) and is not for sugar-sweetened sodas.

The committee also approved an affiliation agreement to allow paramedic trainees to perform required clinical rotations at DeKalb Medical Center (Emory Decatur). Fire department staff said there is no cost to the county for that clinical placement.

On personnel benefits, county risk/finance staff asked the committee to authorize participation in the ACCG/IRMA supplemental medical/accident and disability fund for the new first-responder PTSD benefit created by a recent state House bill. Staff estimated the county's first-year premium at a little over $300,000, subject to refinement when head counts are finalized. Staff explained the benefit structure: an immediate $3,000 payment upon a qualifying PTSD diagnosis, and ongoing disability payments equal to 60% of active pay with a monthly cap of $5,000 (staff emphasized the monthly cap during a clarification). Commissioners were told the premiums would be fully paid by the county and that counties are required by the law to provide PTSD benefits to defined classes of first responders; participation through ACCG/IRMAA was recommended but not mandatory. The resolution to participate passed.

Committee members heard a lengthy presentation on SPLOST-funded fire-station work. Staff described the county's existing 26 stations (average age about 41 years), gaps in coverage particularly in the eastern portion of the county, and design standards for new builds (three apparatus bays, separate living quarters, privacy-sensitive layouts). Staff said SPLOST 1 and SPLOST 2 together will fund seven new or replacement stations; Station 5 and Station 27 were identified as moving to bid this summer with possible openings targeted around late 2026 and 2027, and other stations staged across the SPLOST schedules. Staff noted the county's Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating influences homeowners' insurance costs and that improving station distribution contributed to the county moving from a 3 to a 2 in prior reviews; a build-out to the county's planning map (approximately 35 stations) would be consistent with an ISO 1 rating. The committee approved a walk-on memorandum of understanding with the city of Stonecrest related to SPLOST Fire Station 14.

A walk-on resolution aimed at addressing egregious littering and the illegal dumping of scrap tires drew extended commissioner discussion but was deferred for further work. Commissioners discussed a range of potential responses — short-term targeted cleanups, clarifying where funds can be used (right-of-way vs. private property), creating a central staff point person (several commissioners called this a "tire czar"), exploring manifest and verification requirements for tire-handling businesses, and legislative options to change how the state tire-recycling fee is administered. The committee voted to defer the item to the next IRPS meeting for staff to return with a fleshed-out proposal.

On pensions, staff and a long-time pension adviser briefed the committee on an open seat on the nine-member pension board and solicited candidate resumes. Committee members were asked to submit nominee materials; staff said a set of recommended candidates would be sent to commissioners and that interviews would be scheduled before a recommendation goes to the full board. The adviser also asked the board to consider two financial matters in a follow-up briefing — whether to adopt an automatic cost-of-living feature (COLA) and whether to change multipliers affecting different employee groups — and gave high-level estimates of the budgetary impact if those changes are adopted. No appointment occurred at the meeting; staff set a process and asked for candidate submissions by the next IRPS meeting.

Votes at a glance: - Item (HR background checks, contract 2000073): motion to extend contract term to Aug. 31, no additional funds requested — approved by voice vote. - Item 20250607 (Fire Rescue): accept $1,325,250 payment from Metro Ambulance Services Inc. (AMR) for penalty assessment fees for 2023–2024 and place funds into the existing enhancement/subsidy line — approved by voice vote. - Contract change order 1378111 (beverages): increase and extend to support Public Works (sanitation & beautification), Fire Rescue and DeKalb Emergency Management Agency; total not to exceed $71,000 — approved by voice vote. - Item 20250561 (paramedic clinical affiliation): affiliation agreement with DeKalb Medical Center Inc. (Emory Decatur) for paramedic trainees' clinical rotations, no cost to county — approved by voice vote. - Item 20250568 (PTSD program): resolution authorizing DeKalb County to participate in ACCG/IRMAA first-responder PTSD fund (per state house bill); estimated first-year premium ~ $300,000; premiums county-paid — approved by voice vote. - Stonecrest MOU (SPLOST Fire Station 14, walk-on): memorandum of understanding for use/access of site and related SPLOST project steps — approved as a walk-on. - Resolution addressing illegal dumping of scrap tires (walk-on): discussion and direction to central staff; item deferred to the next IRPS meeting for a detailed plan — motion to defer approved. - Pension board vacancy: no appointment; staff to distribute candidate packets and schedule interviews; resumes requested for consideration before next IRPS meeting.

What’s next: staff committed to return with additional detail on AMR performance metrics and system improvements, a fleshed-out plan and proposed policy options for combating illegal tire dumping, candidate packets for the pension-board vacancy and a follow-up presentation on pension COLA/multiplier options. The county also said it has an RFP for ambulance services on the street and a beverages RFQ in place for future procurement.

(Reporting based on the IRPS committee transcript of the DeKalb County meeting; meeting timecodes and staff comments are captured in the provenance.)