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Indiana Borough Council debates leaving IC Mesa; considers contract talks with Citizens Ambulance
Summary
Council weighed staying in the county EMS authority (IC Mesa) versus negotiating a separate contract with Citizens Ambulance or a White Township97style deal. Officials discussed a $75-per-household fee (estimated $283,000), collection mechanics and service-area implications; a motion to pursue direct negotiations with Citizens failed on roll call (recorded 2 yes, remainder no).
Indiana Borough Council spent much of its December meeting debating whether to remain a member of the countywide emergency medical services authority (referred to in the record as IC Mesa) or pursue a separate contract directly with Citizens Ambulance or a White Township97style agreement.
Council president opened the discussion by laying out three options: remain with IC Mesa, pursue a standalone agreement with Citizens Ambulance, or take no action. Staff and council members exchanged detailed questions about costs, collection mechanisms and service standards. A recurring fiscal figure in the meeting record was $75 per household; borough staff estimated full participation would yield roughly $283,000 in annual revenue.
Council members and residents raised logistical concerns about how the fee would be collected. Options discussed included adding the fee to the borough tax bill (which provides a county-administered collection and foreclosure remedy) or using the borough97run utility billing system (which staff said would require a software rewrite and collection-agency support). Staff said rewriting the utility-billing system would cost roughly $2,000 and that the borough would need to decide whether it would remit only amounts actually collected or guarantee full payment to the provider.
Speakers also debated contract term length and annual increases. Participants noted the IC Mesa proposal, under the authority97act filing, limits board-approved increases to 5% (with larger increases triggering a public process and municipal opt-in decisions). By contrast, the White Township97style contract discussed by some in the meeting included a 15% year-over-year raise in the example language, which several council members said they found concerning.
Council considered a motion to "continue ongoing negotiations with Citizens to attempt to reach a contract for service" (motion introduced from the floor). The motion was put to a roll call vote; the clerk recorded two yes votes and the rest no (the record shows "no, 2 yes" at the roll call). The motion did not carry on that roll call.
Police Chief, speaking later in the meeting, praised Citizens Ambulance and described the organization97s role in keeping residents safer when it can provide service to the borough and neighboring municipalities. Chief said the department supports whatever funding stream council deems necessary to keep lifesaving service available.
The council did not adopt a final decision to withdraw from IC Mesa during the meeting. Staff said the authority has a December 11 deadline tied to the broader process for municipalities that want to opt in or withdraw; the council recorded that next opportunities and timelines will continue to be monitored and that additional data (especially on response times and remittance rates) should inform any final choice.
Next steps: Council members agreed to keep studying the options and directed staff to continue providing information; one councilor signaled interest in drafting a Citizens-style contract for negotiation, but that proposal did not win sufficient votes at this meeting.
