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| Photo: Tracie Sullivan |
Written by Tracie Sullivan
The Iron County Commission voted Monday, March 9, to sell the county’s ambulance service to Gold Cross following a two-hour public hearing. The commissioner’s decision came after months of debate with area mayors who fought to keep the ambulance service under the direction of the Iron County Sheriff’s Office. During these months, the commissioners offered three alternate proposals to the mayors, two of which were rejected. This left the final option of privatization. The sale includes ambulance vehicles, equipment, supplies, and the two properties and corresponding buildings located in Parowan and Cedar City.
One of the options offered to the mayors following the Iron County Commission’s announcement in September that they were accepting bids to purchase the ambulance service was allowing the cities to take responsibility for their own ambulance needs. All of the mayors declined that option. The commissioners also asked the cities to assist in paying any annual deficits incurred by the ambulance by making a yearly payment to the county. This proposal was rejected by all of the city councils with the exception of Kanarraville.
“The purpose of this motion, what really drives this motion,” said Commissioner Dave Miller on Monday, “is that I really believe that what is in the best interest for our county is to address this now rather than kick the can down the road, and that it will be in the overall best interest of our county.”
Initially the county received three offers to purchase the ambulance service, but only two companies followed through with financial bids, Gold Cross and Color Country Ambulance.
“Of the two final offers that were explained, my preference is Gold Cross,” Miller said as part of his motion. “At this point, I would accept the proposal offered by Gold Cross subject to finalizing negotiations regarding the sale of the ambulance assets, including the associated real property, and working out the transition details.”
Commissioner Dale Brinkerhoff seconded Miller’s motion. Commissioner Alma Adams was not at the meeting but did provide a written statement voicing his support of the sale of the service which was read aloud by Miller. As part of his statement, Adams also agreed that the commission should sell to Gold Cross.
“I believe from their testimony, written materials submitted, and my personal study that they have the required infrastructure, personnel, organizational structure, and experience to provide a high quality EMS service to the people of Iron County,” the statement read.
Adams stated he was impressed with the principles of Color Country Ambulance but did not feel comfortable turning the service over to them considering they did not have “existing organizational structure or past experience in operating an ambulance service.”
Public opinion during Monday’s hearing was split regarding whether privatization was the best option.
Former Iron County ambulance EMT Ethan Bunker said that the service has been in trouble since 1991 when he worked there.
“I have to say we were mismanaged then and that has progressed for years,” Bunker said. “I know a good deal of the EMTs and paramedics that work here in Iron County … [W]e have not had fiscal responsibility or accountability here. I have watched the waste go on in the ambulance service for years.”
Iron County resident Don Young said he was bothered by some of the negative hype he felt was coming from the sheriff’s office regarding the privatization of the ambulance service.
“The fear mongering by the sheriff’s department, the mayors, and others is troubling to me as a long time resident of Iron County,” Young said. “None of these representatives can say with absolute certainty that the ambulance service will be worse, the same, or better if privatized.”
However, several residents and current EMS employees voiced their concerns over privatization and the proposed run configurations Gold Cross submitted as part of their bid.
Cedar City resident Clay Allred, an employee for the county’s EMS, was one of these. Allred said that he sees the call screen and recognizes that multiple calls may come in at one time.
“You go down cutting the service from four ambulances that are ready to go at any time to two that are ready to go at any time, and someone is going to eventually die,” Allred said
Courtney Sullivan, an employee with EMS, told The Independent she is worried about her job as well as the effect the sale could have on the community.
“We are all scared we are going to lose our jobs or have to find new ones because of Gold Cross taking over and the pay deductions,” Sullivan said. “We are also scared for the community and especially the outlying areas.” She echoed Allred’s concerns about a lack of sufficient ambulances to serve those areas.
The commissioners’ decision was not surprising to Kyle Preston, owner of Color Country Ambulance. Preston’s attorney, Lewis Reece, had previously sent the Iron County Commission two letters alleging the bidding process was conducted illegally and demanding they redo it. Preston told The Independent he will be reviewing his options now that the Commission voted to sell the service but that he plans to move forward with legal action.
“Now the damages start,” Preston said. “[B]efore they voted to sell the service, there weren’t any damages to us, but now there are because we just lost money as a result of this decision.”
Iron County Sheriff Mark Gower did not speak at the meeting. However, afterwards he said he did not agree with the commissioners’ decision but that he will respect it. Current EMS director Lt. Jody Edwards said he will do everything he can to support Gold Cross.
“I appreciate the process,” Edwards said. “This is America at work that we’re able to have dialogue, debate, even passionately and not be in fear because of the First Amendment. So things are working really good here … I was asked a month ago, ‘Jody, what are you going to do if they give this to Gold Cross?’ The question is hard, but the answer is easy. I will do everything within my power or the power afforded me to make certain Gold Cross is a complete success because their customers are our citizens that I have sworn to protect.”
Commissioner Brinkerhoff said Gold Cross has agreed to purchase the ambulance service for around $1.3 to $1.6 million. This price reflects the county’s three EMS licenses, the appraised value of the two buildings for $855,000 and the depreciated value of the assets for $561,041.
Brinkerhoff went on to say that the money received by the county for payment of the service will be used to pay back the general fund for part of the $2.1 million debt incurred in the last 10 to 15 years by the ambulance service, adding that the commissioners also plan to pay the $27,000 still left on the bond that helped pay for the Cedar City ambulance building.
