Alamance commissioners approve LifeStar franchise for nonemergency transports; second reading scheduled

The Alamance County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a franchise agreement with LifeStar to provide nonemergency and convalescent ambulance transports under a franchise ordinance adopted earlier this year.

County staff explained the franchise application passed county review and medical peer review, and the board heard from Mike Coutts (LifeStar director) and Travis Dalton (assistant director). LifeStar said it operates in five counties, seeks to lease a local base and plans to station vehicles and staff in Alamance County rather than rely solely on distant depots.

"We're expecting to be able to find a place to lease initially, as a base here," a LifeStar representative said, describing plans for local vehicles and staff. Commissioners asked whether LifeStar would take emergency calls; the company said its initial focus will be nonemergency transport though it could respond to emergencies in exceptional circumstances if the county'run resources were fully committed.

The board voted to approve the agreement tonight so the county attorney could sign the contract; a second reading and final adoption will occur at the next meeting. County staff said LifeStar's charges will match the county's existing ambulance fees so there will be no additional cost to residents for the nonemergency services covered by the franchise.

Vote: motion to approve passed by unanimous voice vote; second reading will be scheduled for the next meeting.

Next steps: County attorney will finalize and sign the franchise contract following board approval; staff will post the contract and make the franchise materials available for public review.

Provenance: presentation and motion covered at the meeting, with LifeStar representatives answering commissioners' questions and the unanimous recorded vote.