It was standing room only in the classroom at the Eureka Springs Fire Department for the Feb. 21 meeting of the Western Carroll County Ambulance District, with citizens there because WCCAD commissioners put out for bid for the contract to provide ambulance service for the western part of the county. Eureka Springs Emergency Medical Services is the current provider, and the contract expires at the end of June. Bids for the new contract will be opened March 23, at 4 p.m., in Judge Sam Barr’s office.
When chair Sam Ward asked for Public Comments, Jed Bullock was first to speak. Bullock said he was entering his 23rd year with ESFD, and named a long list of his relatives who received the services of the Eureka Springs EMS. “I don’t want anybody else responding,” he said. He claimed almost every time an ambulance rolls out, two paramedics are on board. He said Eureka Springs EMS has “outstanding training, facilities and equipment,” and, regarding the contract, Bullock stated, “I ask you to award it to the best, which is the Eureka Springs Fire Department, and keep the continuity going forward. Anything else would be a reduction in services.”
Mike FitzPatrick, representing the Eureka Springs rural first responders, noted the size of the turnout at the meeting indicated the public was concerned over the future of ambulance service, and said the western part of the county has been served well by an exceptional medical service which has never failed to respond. He stated that dissatisfaction of the commissioners is “inexplicable.” “Is there something we don’t know that would cause three of the five commissioners to vote for seeking an alternative?” he asked.
Commissioner Ken Mills took exception to FitzPatrick’s question saying the commission considered options but chose to put the contract out for bid because “there were some things that needed to be better delineated.” An example for Mills was the situation when ESFD canceled a training that he said was called for in the contract. A voice from the crowd, however, claimed the training in question was conducted at a later date and six people graduated.
Commissioner Marie Lee stated they were doing their due diligence to provide clarity of expectations in the contract. She pointed out there were problems with slow response times to certain areas in the past, but Fire Chief Nick Samac has provided better reporting, and response times have improved since he took over.
“We want to raise the bar,” Lee continued, and added, “If Eureka Springs turns out to be the best, then that’s where I’m headed.”
Commissioner David Carlisle added that language in the contract did not allow for negotiations, and Mills reiterated the commission is not going to leave the community stranded.
“We’re citizens too,” Ward stated. He said he wants the best services for himself and his family, but it is the task of the commission to pursue the right decision, and asked the public to respect their position. He explained in the past there have been problems with communications and one class was canceled, but “Nick [Samac] has stepped up to the plate,” and the contract now spells out more clearly want is expected.
Ward then announced that bids would be opened Thursday, March 23, at 4 p.m., in Judge Sam Barr’s office, adding that the commission is not obligated to accept the lowest bid. He mentioned that Eureka Springs was not the lowest bidder when the existing contract was awarded.