HC Supervisors continue to explore EMS options

MT. PLEASANT - The Henry County Board of Supervisors is continuing to explore potential options for providing emergency medical services to the county.

During their meeting on Tuesday morning, the supervisors invited Bob Libby, owner of CARE Ambulance, to discuss obtaining service from a private provider. Libby explained his company will begin servicing Jefferson County this fall and currently provides services in the Grinnell area as well as transfers out of Iowa City. The owner added the company plans to allocate 6 paramedics and 12 EMTs to service Jefferson County.

Libby said the main difference between a private and public service deals with purchase of assets. Whereas a publicly owned service would require requests for proposals or bids before a purchase, a private company can barter and make purchases on their own accord.

Brian Hahn, an employee of CARE Ambulance, added other than 'back-end stuff,” there are not too many differences between a private and public EMS provider.

'Everything is mandated by the state. We all have the same types of guidelines and requirements, so there are many similarities and very minimal differences,” Hahn said.

The supervisors will hold a work session Wednesday at 1 p.m. to continue to discuss options for providing the service to Henry County.

During the meeting, the supervisors also approved a $1.3 million transfer of funds to the Secondary Road Fund under the county engineer's department.

The department's office manager, Jelen McCall said the funds will 'pretty much [be the] beginning balance” for the department come July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.