Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ems Franchise topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lee County holds public hearing on EMS franchise amid competing bids and process concerns
Summary
At a public hearing Oct. 6, MedEx and First Health presented competing proposals to provide Lee County 9‑1‑1 ambulance services; First Health highlighted a 7.55‑minute average response time and unanimous advisory‑committee support, while MedEx argued the procurement lacked transparency and said its bid would save about $12 million over the contract term. The board deferred any ordinance action until Oct. 20.
Lee County commissioners opened a statutorily required public hearing Oct. 6 on whether to grant an exclusive franchise for emergency and non‑emergency ambulance service.
Two providers made presentations before the board and assembled public comment. Jeff White, chief operations officer of MedEx Medical Transport, told commissioners the solicitation process created “an environment of uncertainty and inconsistency,” saying MedEx’s proposal was “approximately $12,000,000 less than the First Health contractor for the term,” and urging the board to rebid or reconsider the award to capture taxpayer savings. White also said MedEx runs a large operation across central and eastern North Carolina and disputed claims that MedEx lacked experience.
Representatives from First Health of the Carolinas — including COO Jonathan Davis, regional EMS lead Matt Presswood and CEO Mickey Foster — described First Health’s record in Lee County and across the region. Matt Presswood cited response‑time performance, saying the provider’s average response time was 7.55 minutes and that First Health now staffs five ambulances 24/7 in Lee County. First Health officials noted investments in wages (EMT pay raised to $21 and paramedic pay to $28), capital spending including mobile data terminals and a local paramedic academy that they said supports staffing and retention.
County staff opened the hearing by summarizing the statutory process. Staff said state law (cited during the meeting) requires two public hearings; the second will be Oct. 20 and the board may take first‑reading action then. Dozens of residents, providers and county personnel spoke during the hearing. Nathan Miller, the county EMS medical director, urged the board to prioritize clinical quality and said First Health has demonstrated a commitment to patient care. Multiple current First Health employees and local residents described positive experiences with response times and continuity of service. David Smoak, a Sanford resident who also said he supports the concept of franchising, raised concerns about possible improprieties in the bidding process and asked that any allegations be documented and investigated.
After public comment and staff presentation of a draft ordinance, the board discussed whether to take a first reading of the franchise ordinance that evening or to wait. Commissioners chose to wait until the Oct. 20 meeting (the second advertised public hearing) before taking any ordinance action.
What happens next: the board will hold the second public hearing Oct. 20; staff will present the advisory‑committee record, any written comments and the draft ordinance for potential first reading. The board did not vote on awarding a franchise Oct. 6.
Quotes in this report come directly from remarks made at the Oct. 6 public hearing and from the formal presentations given to the board.
