An Augusta Commission committee was supposed to discuss a contract between the city and Gold Cross EMS for the company to provide emergency ambulance services in Richmond County, but the discussion never got off the ground. So, a committee will discuss it instead.
On May 4, the full commission voted for Commissioner Alvin Mason’s motion to replace the city’s current memorandum of understanding with Gold Cross with a formal contract that will ensure Gold Cross is “accountable.” But when the matter came up on the Public Safety Committee agenda May 11, committee Chairman John Clarke was faced with two different contracts, one from the city and one from Gold Cross.
“I don’t think there’s any way for this committee to sit up here today and negotiate a contract,” Clarke said.
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Clarke then proposed that interim city Administrator Takiyah Douse meet with Gold Cross officials by Thursday and negotiate a contract to present to commissioners.
Mayor Pro Tem Bobby Williams said he didn’t read the contract and wanted to hear what it included.
“I can’t go along with that,” Williams said. “I want to hear the particulars. I didn’t read the contract, so I want to hear what they came up with. I want to hear it.”
So, Clarke asked Douse to read the city’s contract.
“Walk us through it,” Clarke said.
“Highlights,” Williams said.
“Commissioner, could you please clarify how you would like me to present the contract?” Douse asked.
“Mayor Pro Tem, you want the…” Clarke said.
“I want the highlights and particulars that will make this contract a little different from anything we’ve done in the past, or what have you,” Williams said. “Just basically, the highlights of the contract that you have.”
“May I have a moment to speak with staff, please?” Douse asked.
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So, Clarke called a five-minute recess while Douse huddled with staff. When the sidebar was over, a motion to form a committee to discuss the contract passed with no discussion.
Also at Tuesday’s Public Safety Committee meeting, Richard Jones, a resident of Tudor Drive, reported two “key” situations his Tudor Drive neighbors had with Gold Cross.
Jones said one neighbor’s husband had a serious medical condition, and it took Gold Cross about 45 minutes to arrive, and the man died at his house.
The other situation concerned a neighbor’s son who was having a heart attack at his business on Washington Road location, and an ambulance did not go to that location, Jones said.
“His mother had to drive from Tudor Drive which is next to Tubman Home Road,” Jones said. “She had to go over there to pick him up to take him to the emergency room. These are all facts. Her son, he would up with two stents in his heart.”
Jones said he supported a proposal Commissioner Dennis Williams made earlier in the meeting for the city to create a way for people with complaints about Gold Cross to register them with the city.
“And I think the communication gap between the 911 center and the calls to the ambulatory service, so we get better response time will be greatly appreciated,” Jones said.
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Gold Cross Vice President Steven Vincent, who was at Tuesday’s meetings, said that was the first time he’d heard about Jones’ complaints.
“I just don’t know anything about it,” he said. “I’ve got no complaints on any of those calls. I’ve never met Mr. Jones or had any discussions with him. He stated his opinions as facts. I don’t know if there is anything to substantiate them. Was it five years ago? Or 10 years? It seems awfully convenient they had the Gold Cross contract on the agenda the day Mr. Jones comes to speak.”
The Regional EMS Council designated Gold Cross as the sole provider of emergency ambulance service in Richmond County and must by law provide the service. Some commissioners therefore reason they shouldn’t pay Gold Cross anything for transporting the county’s indigent population.
Sylvia Cooper is a columnist with The Augusta Press. Reach her at sylvia.cooper@theaugustapress.com
