By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com

Discussions about the upcoming contract and Bucyrus’ mutual aid help with Life Support took up the bulk of a lengthy Central Joint Ambulance District (CJAD) meeting Wednesday night.

In giving an update to the Central Joint Ambulance District Board of Directors, Bucyrus representative Steve Pifer noted that nothing has changed with the city in regards to the mutual aid agreement between Life Support and Bucyrus Fire and EMS. Pifer added that at this point the issue won’t go before council unless it works for everyone.

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CJAD President Jamie Sherk tried to sum up the situation, noting that the issue may not be from council, but the issue of possibly the Bucyrus EMS having to leave Bucyrus on an emergency run being the ultimate factor on why the city is dragging its feet.

“Basically, what they are saying is that if it is within the city they are fine, but if it is in a township they don’t want anything to do with it,” Sherk said.

Life Support owner Tom Durbin noted that he has been waiting for contact from the city, however if they can’t provide mutual aid, they will need a subsidy to continue.

“I have been waiting for them to call me after our meeting, but I haven’t heard anything from them,” Durbin said. “It is going to come down to this: if the city doesn’t want to work with us there is going to have to be a subsidy.”

Pifer noted that council can talk about it, but can’t vote due to the council waiting on a Memorandum of Understanding between the city and the CJAD. Pifer added that it has been frustrating that it is taking this long to move forward.

Durbin added that he is trying to be as helpful as he can be, and has been available for the Bucyrus Administration and Fire Chief Jay Keller to speak with him.

Durbin changed gears and spoke about the Middletown Road station. Durbin noted that they are continuing on working on licensing for things and that they are on track to begin staffing the building by April 1.

Durbin then changed gears again and spoke about the performance bond issue as well as possible subsidy within the upcoming contract.

“We function without it,” Durbin began. “We are suffering losses as it is but we are here for the community. We have had negative reaction in the past from the board, but a performance bond would drive us even further into the red.”

Durbin added that while operating under a few other municipal contracts that Life Support hadn’t had a performance bond requirement.

Durbin noted that without some kind of mutual aid that Life Support will need a subsidy to continue to operate.

“If securing a $250,000 subsidy, it could ensure our service,” Durbin said. “Litigation from previous lawsuits hurt us originally, but I would like to back it up with our over two years of exceptional service. We have had less than 3 percent variances to runs, and only a few complaints. We have been using reliable equipment and personnel.”

Durbin noted that a fourth crew from Monday through Friday has been added to Life Support’s force to help with transportation contracts with Avita, and that hopefully when not doing transportation, that fourth crew could help take the stress off of relying on mutual aid. Durbin added that if the numbers don’t work operationally that the fourth crew could be dropped in the future.

The CJAD asked Durbin if he could provide his information on the fourth crew in writing to them, and Life Support COO Jesse Sipe noted that he would contact the local fire departments to check into emergency service mutual aid.

In Sipe’s report to the CJAD he noted that Life Support answered to 233 9-1-1 calls of which 33 were refusals, six were fire standbys and eight were assists.

Sipe also noted some issues that Life Support has been experiencing with the Plymouth Street Station, which is rented from the City of Bucyrus.

“The ceilings have water damage, and have moldy tiles, we need to put plastic over the equipment in the supply room because of water leaking, the fans in the bathrooms are not working, and we are having issues with the rear garage door,” Sipe said. “It needed repaired. A guy from the city came out and repaired it, but said that it was unsafe to continue to use.”

Editors note: The number $250 million was incorrect, it has been changed to $250,000 to reflect the actual numbers.