Augusta commissioners approved a contract Tuesday and $2.65 million subsidy for Central EMS to run eight to 14 ambulances and three quick-response vehicles out of Augusta fire stations for five years.
The vote was 8-1-1 with Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle opposed and Commissioner Alvin Mason absent. Both had been ardent backers of former provider Gold Cross, while the eight votes Tuesday indicate the commission is ready to move on from the contentious issue.
Roswell-based Central won the state license to serve Augusta earlier this year, but made a sudden start April 2 after Gold Cross ended service a week after giving 30 days’ notice.
As a subcommittee negotiated the contract, over the last two weeks Central has run 1,161 EMS calls that arrived on average within 14 minutes, said Interim City Administrator Takiyah Douse, who presented the contract to commissioners Tuesday.
Dispatched by Augusta 911, 55% of the calls did not result in a patient transport, Douse said. Those individuals might benefit from the contract’s inclusion of two social workers trained to connect Augustans “with community resources that Augusta already has in place,” she said.
Douse said the subcommittee negotiated the $2.65 million subsidy down from Central’s higher initial request.
While Central EMS President Gary Coker has specified the firm’s private equity owners require a 10% profit, Douse said the subsidy reflected less than 10%. It also reflects a reduction in the amount Central may bill for an ambulance, to $1,500.
In separate questions, Commissioner Sean Frantom and Guilfoyle asked why Central demanded a five-year term rather than something shorter.
Bryan Gibson, president and CEO of Central parent company Priority Ambulance, said Central needs the longer term to “recoup our investment,” while Douse added that five years is what Augusta asked for.
Guilfoyle asked why Central was presenting a different number of ambulances and QRVs than it did in bidding for the state license.
Gibson said while the number is actually higher, Central will adjust the number of available vehicles based on call data as it accumulates. Contract negotiations led to Central making around a 6.3% profit, he said.
Commissioner Brandon Garrett moved to approve the contract and was seconded by Commissioner Francine Scott. At that point Guilfoyle made a counter-proposal: reduce the subsidy by $300,000, eliminate a 3% annual increase and require Central to surrender the license if the contract is terminated.
His motion did not receive a second, and the main motion went on to pass 8-1-1.
