>> BALDWIN COUNTY
Baldwin County will have a new ambulance service as early as November, and whether it will be operated by a private company or as a county department is yet to be determined.
Grady Emergency Medical Services (EMS) notified County Manager Carlos Tobar by a certified letter dated Aug. 1 that the company would not be renewing its contract with the county at the end of the current service period, Nov. 5. The company subsequently agreed to continue its service until the end of this year if requested.
Tobar and county officials do not believe that will be necessary. The Board of Commissioners met last Friday, Aug. 18, to discuss the situation and, following a thorough discussion, voted to send out requests for proposals (RFPs), for ambulance service for the county. Those proposals will be due no later than 5 p.m. Sept. 1.
“It will be a formal solicitation,” Tobar said. “What it means is we’re going to give the same parameters to all the prospective vendors so that there’s no confusion as to what’s expected.” He added that the proposal notice will also go out via the Georgia Procurement Agency.
“Anytime a public agency goes out for bid for anything, engineering, construction, whatever, all firms that have licenses to do business in Georgia are emailed about that solicitation.”
Tobar has been working on the unexpected problem since receiving the letter, and he told commissioners Friday he had already been contacted by two potential providers, AmeriPro Health and Atrium Health, the Medical Center in Macon. Tobar said Monday that it is his understanding that AmeriPro currently provides ambulance service in Upson and Lamar counties.
Tobar told the commissioners Friday that he planned to offer the option of the county providing the service in-house.
“We will prepare our own budget so that we can compare our budget with whoever responds,” he said.
The county manager said that no matter whether the service is provided by the county or a third party, it is highly likely that the same employees would be utilized. It is common for employees to be retained, he emphasized.
“They’re likely going to be the first ones the new contractor is going to want to hire,” Tobar said. “Paramedics and EMTs don’t grow on trees. They’re very difficult to recruit, train, and hire.
“These are specialized professionals,” he continued. “Our employees know we’re going to provide ambulance service. More than likely, we’re going to hire them or a third party is going to hire them.”
Tobar reiterated that he anticipated the current employees would stay on the job, whoever provides the ambulance service, noting the satisfaction of their service with county residents.
He said when the county went through the comprehensive planning process last year a survey was taken.
“The citizens were asked ‘How do you rate your county services?’. Fire and EMS was the highest rated,” Tobar reported.
Should the board’s decision be to provide the service in-house, the county would need to purchase ambulances.
“Grady EMS made a proposal to us to purchase five ambulances. So, that would be part of our proposal to the commissioners if they want to do it in-house,” he said.
The county currently pays Grady EMS $195,000 annually to subsidize the service here. Tobar said that company has a $2.5 million budget, with expenditures being about the same as revenues from transports.
“So, the operating subsidy of $195,000, more than likely, that’s their profit,” he speculated.
Should the commissioners decide to provide the ambulance service in-house, Baldwin County would receive the transport fees, and Tobar envisions using a third party to handle that aspect of the operation.
He acknowledged that taking over the service would be more work for the county now, including handling payroll issues for approximately 32 employees, with some who are parttime. But, he said, it could be done.
“If we decide to take it in-house, I think we could be ready to go Nov. 5,” he said. “That’s the beginning of a payroll period, perfect timing for us. I’ve checked with our HR (Human Resources) about taking on 32 new people by Nov. 5, putting policies and procedures in place."
County commissioners are taking a wait-and-see approach. District 3 Board Member Sammy Hall said this past Tuesday that the schedule was set for proposals to be due by Sept. 5.
“At that time we will evaluate those proposals,” he said. “At that time, if Carlos has a budget, it could be used as part of our evaluation and comparison.
“There are advantages and disadvantages to both choices,” Hall added. “We will just have to compare as best we can to arrive at a decision.”
District Two representative Kendrick Butts offered similar thoughts.
“I am just waiting on all the numbers and facts to be placed in front of me so I can make the best decision for the citizens of Baldwin County,” he said. “At this point, I don’t have an opinion on either one. It doesn’t matter to me as long as the service chosen is reliable and less cost to the taxpayers.”
Tobar said he could not speculate on which direction the county will take, as there is no way of knowing now how many proposals will be submitted. But, he said, Baldwin County residents should not have any concerns.
“There’s going to be ambulance service,” Tobar said. “Rain, snow, sleet or shine, there’s going to be ambulance service.”