PIKE COUNTY COULD HAVE A NEW DEAL ON EMS SERVICE

PIKE COUNTY MANAGER BOBBY BICKLEY TOLD 101 NEWS MONDAY NEGOTIATIONS WITH GRADY EMS HAVE BEEN FRUITFUL AND HE PLANS TO PRESENT THE NEW PROPOSAL FOR A VOTE TO THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DURING THE FIRST READING OF THE BUDGET AT 1PM TODAY.

HE DECLINED TO RELEASE SPECIFICS BUT SAID UNDER THE AMENDED CONTRACT PIKE COUNTY WOULD KEEP TWO AMBULANCES ON DUTY 24/7 AND IN ADDITION TO THE ONE YEAR LEFT ON THE CURRENT CONTRACT—IT WOULD BE EXTENDED FOR TWO ADDITIONAL YEARS.

BICKLEY CALLED IT A FAIR CONTRACT FOR BOTH PARTIES.

GRADY EMS REPORTEDLY HAD BEEN LOSING MONEY ON THE CURRENT CONTRACT AND INFORMED THE COUNTY IT WOULD END SERVICE JUNE 30TH, AFTER THE COMMISSIONERS DID NOT ACT ON THREE NEW OPTIONS IT PROPOSED. ONLY ONE OF THOSE INCLUDED TWO AMBULANCES —BUT THE COST WOULD HAVE JUMPED FROM $250,000 TO HALF A MILLION ANNUALLY.