By Randall Higgins
The Chattanooga Times Free Press
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The Cleveland City Council created the possibility Monday of operating city-only fire and ambulance services within less than a year.
The council rejected a Bradley County Commission plan to phase out city fire service to the subdivisions around the city limit over three years. The county now pays $1.8 million annually for that city service. The county plan was itself a counterproposal to a four-year contract negotiated by County Mayor D. Gary Davis and City Manager Janice Casteel.
City firefighters have worried they might lose jobs if the contract is changed.
Instead, City Fire Chief Chuck Atchley proposed Monday that the city look at creating its own ambulance service. With five city fire stations and nearly 20 emergency medical technicians on staff, he said such a plan could save firefighters’ jobs and create a higher level of service.
“It’s my belief state statute allows (city ambulance service),” Chief Atchley said. “We can do it with contractors or with Cleveland firefighters.”
A city-operated ambulance service could provide both emergency and convalescent trips, he said.
Ms. Casteel said the city doesn’t have a contract with the county for ambulance service.
But County Commissioner Howard Thompson, who attended the council meeting, said the city can’t stop county ambulances from answering calls in the city limits.
“We’ll stay in the city. Our ambulance service will continue to run in the city,” Mr. Thompson said.
City Councilman Richard Banks made the motion directing city staff to come up with an ambulance service business plan within 90 days. He said the plan must keep the same level of employees, same or better levels of service and not require a property tax increase.
He also said it’s important to inform county residents in the urban fringe area that city fire service likely will end in 11 months and the county must build more stations and hire more firefighters to cover that area.
Copyright 2009 Chattanooga Publishing Company