EMS Services Could Change In Autauga Co.
The city of Prattville has provided EMS services for Autauga County for years — but now, city and county leaders are discussing whether that service will continue.
Autauga County has paid the city of Prattville about $420,000 a year the last three years to get EMS services, but the price is going up. So the question is will the city and county now separate?
Prattville EMT’s can drive to most parts of the city in about two minutes.
But what about the other 36 percent of EMS calls out of the city limits? Places like the Jones community — that’s about a 45 minute drive.
“What we need to do though is we need to have multiple stations throughout our county where these private companies are stationed that can cut that response time,” Said Autauga County commissioner, Kyle Glover.
Glover says it would cost the county $750,000 a year to sign a three year contract with the city. County leaders say they’re looking into other EMS companies to see if there are better options. Mayor Bill Gillespie says with the county’s growth in the last several years, he understands if the county needs to part ways…
“The average response time… From the time it leaves to the time it gets back into service to serve the citizen here in Prattville, it’s usually an hour and 40 minutes,” Said Gillespie.
Some people who live in Autauga County say they’re worried outsourcing services won’t compete with Prattville’s.
“What level of service are they going to be able to provide? The quality of service. Do I believe they’re as good as these young men and women that are sitting out here in the fire deptment ready to respond in seconds? I think not,” Said Autauga County resident, Phil Nolette.
Glover says there’s nothing to worry about.
“Those fire medics, those firemen are on 24 [hours] and off 48 [hours], so a lot of them will probably find themselves working for a private company on those two days off so probably going to see the same face that they’ve seen before,” Said Glover.
If county and city EMS services separate, they still have a mutual aid agreement, which means if there is a weather disaster, entrapment or any major accident in the county, the city will still be able to help.
County leaders say they’ve been talking to several companies. They would not name them, but say they are familiar names. The contract for EMS services in the city ends December 31st.
