Bryan City Council approves EMS memorandum of understanding with Williams County

The Bryan City Council on July 20 approved Ordinance 332026 authorizing the mayor to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Williams County Board of Commissioners to continue a cooperative emergency medical services arrangement between Williams County EMS and the Bryan Fire Department.

An official representing the Bryan Fire Department described the ordinance as the “cleanup” of a yearlong pilot and said the agreement is written for annual review. The official said the MOU allows the city to operate at a basic life support level while working under the county medical director’s protocols and to continue providing first-responder transports when staffing allows. "We've worked out a lot of the kinks," the official said, and "it's time to get it signed." (Agency official, Bryan Fire Department.)

Council members pressed for clarity on equipment, staffing and reimbursement. The department representative said equipment purchased by the city remains city property, while equipment provided by the county is county equipment that the county maintains. On staffing, the official said the department has 25 personnel total and that 23 are at least EMT-basic certified; a small number are first-responder only or currently uncertified, and some part-time staff hold paramedic credentials but operate at the basic level under the city agreement.

On reimbursement, council members heard that the MOU changes the prior reimbursement approach — formerly calculated as 10% of what EMS received — to a flat payment of $35 per run. John said the flat amount is "slightly above the average reimbursement we've received up till now." The official emphasized the agreement's goal is reliable, cost-efficient patient care rather than profit: "The financial piece was there because we gotta do something, but that was never the intent to make money out of this." (Agency official, Bryan Fire Department.)

A key negotiation point was the county's commitment to provide the ambulance; council members said the city would not invest in an ambulance while a 30-day termination clause could end the agreement. The council resolved that concern by retaining the county ambulance responsibility in the MOU.

A motion to suspend the rules and approve the ordinance passed by roll call vote with unanimous support from members present. The ordinance authorizes the mayor to sign the agreement and directs staff to implement the terms as written.

The council approved the ordinance on July 20; the MOU will be reviewed annually as provided in the agreement.