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Richland County committee reviews draft ambulance contract after township protest over Pine Valley billing
Summary
A Richland Township resident told the Executive Finance Committee the county’s draft ambulance contract could raise the township’s annual ambulance bill from about $9,690 to roughly $43,369; county staff said the draft replaces a decade‑old MOU, will be sent to municipalities for review, and staff will verify call counts before the next meeting.
The Richland County Executive Finance Standing Committee heard extended public comment and staff discussion on a proposed ambulance service contract that replaces a decade‑old memorandum of understanding.
Gordon Palmer, who said he represented Richland Township and served on the original joint ambulance committee, told the committee the proposed contract was drafted without negotiation with municipalities and would sharply increase Richland Township’s costs. "We were paying $9,690 for the last 3 or 4 years. That's going to be raised under this new contract to $43,369 a year," Palmer said, citing his understanding that the new draft bills the township for about 192.75 calls at $225 per call compared with about 57 calls at $170 under the earlier agreement. He urged removing Pine Valley Manor from the township’s billing, saying the township receives no property tax from that facility.
County staff acknowledged the contract language was adapted from a model service contract and that staff planned to send the draft to all municipalities along with each municipality’s call totals. The administrator said the draft incorporates protections not present in the old MOU and that the JAC (Joint Ambulance Committee) will meet in October to discuss options for sharing Pine Valley calls. "We can double check the calls," staff said after several committee members questioned the counts and possible double‑counting.
Committee members and staff also discussed the ambulance program’s fragile finances: an overstated municipal revenue line in the budget left the service with little reserve, projected billing revenue was reduced from earlier estimates, and high write‑offs from Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements were cited as persistent revenue challenges.
Staff described limited near‑term options: (1) proceed with sending the draft contract to municipalities while allowing call numbers to be verified, (2) pursue a countywide cost‑sharing arrangement for Pine Valley, or (3) have the county temporarily absorb Pine Valley costs while municipalities establish a district or another mechanism. Several members urged staff to check the call‑by‑call data to resolve disputed counts before any binding action.
There was no final formal action on the contract at the meeting; staff were instructed to send the draft to municipalities and return the item to the committee for further consideration.
Ending: The committee requested verification of the ambulance call data and said the contract would return to the executive committee and then to the full board for any decision.
