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County reviews competing ambulance proposals; councilmember recommends Marion Health
Summary
Blackford County leaders reviewed competing ambulance-service proposals from IU Health and Marion Health on Sept. 17. Proposals differed on cost, coverage and stationing; Councilmember Ryan Goodspeed recommended Marion Health and officials said a decision is needed soon.
Councilmember Ryan Goodspeed and Commissioner Dan Borgenheimer presented competing proposals for ambulance service in Blackford County. According to the presentation, IU Health proposed operating a single ambulance in the county for a cost of $200,000, with an alternative option priced at $500,000 that would rely on mutual aid and could eliminate ambulance service in Montpelier; both IU Health options would include a 4% annual increase.
Marion Health proposed keeping one ambulance in Blackford County at all times, plus a second ambulance staged from Marion East for $500,000; the Marion proposal also included a 4% annual increase and an additional $500,000 option to station an ambulance in Montpelier. Goodspeed told the boards his recommendation is to select Marion Health to preserve on‑county coverage. Officials said action on the ambulance contract will be required soon to secure service and stationing arrangements.
Why it matters: ambulance contract terms affect local emergency response times and which towns retain on‑county coverage; the cost differences and stationing plans presented will be material to council and commissioner decisions. The meeting minutes record Goodspeed's recommendation but show no formal contract award that night.
