By Jessica Wray
Evansville Courier & Press
BOONVILLE, Ind. — Warrick County Commissioners tapped St. Mary’s Warrick Monday evening to continue providing emergency medical services to Warrick County residents, approving a seven-year contract.
In addition to St. Mary’s Warrick, Deaconess and American Medical Response had submitted proposals to provide medical services for the county.
After the vote, St. Mary’s EMS supervisor Tony O’Neal said he and his staff are excited to continue serving Warrick County, and that residents should not see a change in services.
“I think it’s a great decision,” O’Neal said. “St. Mary’s has been a wonderful support for the county. We’ve had a lot of support with other emergency services, from fire and police. We’re looking forward to another long-term contract with (the county.)”
The St. Mary’s proposal for a seven-year contract was approved unanimously by the commissioners, although Commission President Don Williams said the contract could end up being for 10 years. He said this past year the county paid a little less than $1 million for the St. Mary’s services, which is set to decrease over time with the new contract.
He said the Deaconess and AMR proposals would eliminate three of the five current ambulance stations, Chandler, the one near Alcoa and in Newburgh, for less money each year paid by the county. The other two stations are in Boonville and Lynnville. But the savings, he said, is a “wash,” once the commissioners factored in keeping all five ambulance stations open.
The county will pay $700,000 after the first year, and by year seven, will be expected to pay around $300,000. Williams said it is a win-win for county residents.
“Our medical services, the police, the fire, the EMS, they are tight knit group of people,” Williams said. ‘There are many times where our EMS has trained our police department and also our fire department.”
Commissioner Marlin Weisheit said St. Mary’s Warrick has more than 30 full-time ambulance employees who staff the stations.
The county and St. Mary’s officials will now enter into contract negotiations, which be completed before the end of the year. The current contract will expire Dec. 1, closing out an eight-year contract.
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©2014 the Evansville Courier & Press (Evansville, Ind.)