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Council extends Medical Jets ambulance contract despite large price increase
Summary
Council voted to extend the city's Medical Jets ambulance contract after staff and the company described improved response times and operational benefits; staff materials listed an estimated first-year cost of about $753,000 and a five-year term was proposed.
Balch Springs City Council voted on July 13 to extend its contract with Medical Jets after staff and the provider described service improvements and a sizable price increase. Council and staff discussed affordability, complaint history and operational benefits before approving the extension.
Fire and city staff said the proposed change converts the contract from three to five years and includes a substantial first-year payment. Staff materials presented to council indicated a first-year cost "about 753,000 and some change," and the company representative said the requested increase was intended to cover personnel and operational costs not previously recovered. Jeremy, the Medical Jets representative, told council, "We estimate we're saving the city about 1000000 dollars over the next year, each year, as we provide this service" by improving integration with dispatch, supplying monitors and providing staffing to reduce response times.
City staff and the fire chief defended the partnership: they said response times improved from roughly 20 minutes to about 3'4 minutes after Medical Jets placed a facility on Peachtree within the city and added ambulances. Council asked whether the city had received complaints about Medical Jets; staff said they had not. After discussion about budget implications and alternatives (including running a new RFP), Councilmember Hill made a motion to extend the contract; the motion passed.
