County Board Votes Against Ambulance Contract w/RuralMed

Print

Published on November 18 2021 4:34 pm
Last Updated on November 19 2021 9:37 am
Written by Greg Sapp

Effingham County Board members this week voted against awarding a contract for 911 ambulance calls to RuralMed.

The vote was two in favor and four against. Those who voted in favor were Rob Arnold and Joe Thoele. Arnold chairs the Ambulance Oversight Committee that voted earlier to recommend RuralMed. 

Members David Campbell, Doug McCain, John Perry and Heather Mumma voted against awarding the contract to RuralMed. Member Norbert Soltwedel was not present for the meeting. Member Elizabeth Huston, who is part-owner of A-1 Emergency Medical Services that is getting established in the Altamont community, abstained from the vote, although her company did not bid on the emergency call contract. Board Chairman Jim Niemann typically does not vote unless he needs to break a tie.

Local residents Ed Hoopingarner, Connie Aird and Seth Largent spoke against awarding the contract to RuralMed. Largent is employed by Abbott EMS, the current contract holder for emergency calls.

Speaking by phone Thursday, Arnold wasn't sure when the issue would be revisited, but expected it would be a topic in committee in December.

The County's contract with Abbott expires in April.

Also this week, the County Board appointed Dr. James Graham and Dr. Jennifer Dust to the County Board of Health, with Perry voting against appointing Dust; and the Board voted to place three parcels of property on which taxes are delinquent back on the property tax rolls.

The Board tabled action on approving $375,000 in Federal funds to be distributed among childcare workers in the county and will revisit the issue in December. The funds amount to $2,000 per the 187 childcare workers on the list being considered by the Board. They also authorized the Effingham Masonic Lodge and the Effingham County Historical Society to restore the cornerstone on the Effingham County Courthouse Museum; approved the award of gift cards to County workers in lieu of a Christmas party; and approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Effingham regarding an upgrade of Airport Road east off US Route 45.

The Board also voted to approve a salary schedule for Fiscal 2022 for non-union County workers including a 3% pay increase plus an additional $1.25 per hour. The plan is for a similar increase next fiscal year.