By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com

The working relationship between the Central Joint Ambulance District and Life Support is expected to continue for the next three years.

A motion to accept the three-year contract as amended was voted on unanimously by the Central Joint Ambulance District (CJAD) board members present at the monthly meeting Wednesday night. The agreement is now contingent upon Life Support agreeing to the deal.

There was some debate whether to go with the maximum three years or something shorter. Ultimately, the board showed its conviction with the current parameters, especially when Life Support supervisor Richard Burkepile explained the status of the mutual aid agreement with Bucyrus Fire and EMS.

“They’ve been more than accommodating for us,” Burkepile indicated. “I think we’re working very well together.”

According to Burkepile, the Bucyrus EMS squad has already made a few runs for the ambulance service while Life Support was on a number of other calls. Those assists were made within the city limits. Burkepile added that the city’s squad has also helped out Life Support when its crew needed lift assistance with a patient.

As things run smoothly on the mutual aid front, Burkepile said some of the major issues at the Plymouth Street station are being taken care of by the city, which recently approved a one-year lease of the building with Life Support.

Burkepile said the big doors of the station were replaced and were functioning well. Before the city fixed the doors, Life Support crews had to back out into traffic more than they should have been doing, according to Burkepile. The city also did some gutter work and tile work is expected to be completed.

“We just keep plugging along. They keep the big things working. That’s all we care about for now,” Burkepile said. “As long as the water runs and the toilets flush, we’re happy.”

In Life Support’s monthly report, Burkepile noted that the ambulance service responded to 233 9-1-1 calls in March with 41 refusals, 11 fire standbys, and eight medical assists. The majority of the calls came from the city of Bucyrus (154) with Liberty Township racking up 14 calls and Whetstone and Chatfield townships each accounting for 13. Tod Township recorded zero calls for March.