Emergency services contract stalls out in Taylor County meeting amid controversy

The Taylor County Commissioners Court meeting Tuesday heated up as members of the public filled the room, speaking out against a proposal for a new contract for emergency medical services in the county.

Fire chiefs and first responders from all over Taylor County voiced their concerns over a possible contract with MetroCare and how they think residents will suffer as a result.

In the end, Commissioner Randy Williams requested more time to gather additional information. In a unanimous vote, county commissioners tabled contract talks until April 26 when they could decide if the county will stick with Taylor County EMS or go with the cheaper option, MetroCare.

Taylor County EMS' current contract with Taylor County is up Oct. 1, according to county documents.

'Neighbors serving neighbors'

Several members of the public spoke out today to air their concerns. The first to speak was Will Hendon, regional director of operations for AMR and MetroCare.

He said MetroCare has been a local organization since 2004. He stressed staff members are "neighbors serving neighbors."

After the meeting, MetroCare spokesperson Amy Link said, "With resources and support from AMR, the largest provider of EMS services in the nation, MetroCare is able to offer the highest level of service at the best value to the citizens of Taylor County. We look forward to the court reconvening soon and making a decision in the best interest of the community."

MetroCare is part of a larger corporation, AMR, with headquarters in Colorado. According to its website, Global Medical Response Inc. is a privately held company reporting earnings on a quarterly basis.

On the other hand, Taylor County EMS is a nonprofit community-based ambulance service owned and operated by its members. It became the primary response service for Taylor County, outside Abilene city limits, in 2011.

'Cheaper is not always better'

Following comments from MetroCare representatives, a string of first responders spoke out with concerns over MetroCare being a larger organization, one with shareholders and not local to Abilene.

Sergeants and fire chiefs from all over Taylor County asked county commissioners questions such as, where would MetroCare respond from, and what would their response time be?

James Jessup of the Jim Ned Fire Department said he is "very concerned about changes in emergency services." He said he is also apprehensive about a company beholden to shareholders, referring to MetroCare.

Rochelle Johnson, Expo Center general manager and executive vice president, spoke against MetroCare, bringing up examples of serious rodeo accidents that the Expo Center had seen in previous years.

In one case, Johnson said a child hit by a bull sat unconscious, waiting on a MetroCare ambulance transport to the hospital for 30 minutes.

Johnson said she had grave concerns about the changes that a contract with MetroCare could bring to Taylor County. When

After the meeting, she said, "Cheaper is not always better."

Commissioners table the discussion

After hearing from members of the public, Scott Henderson, purchasing agent for Taylor County, presented the findings from the evaluation committee.

The committee had looked at MetroCare, Taylor County EMS and City Ambulance Service.

With every combination of the number of ambulances, ranging from two full time and one part time to three full-time ambulances, MetroCare underbid the other two agencies and also scored higher according to the committee's ranking system.

Henderson noted that scoring for each of the agencies relied mostly on the cost of services, followed by implementation of services, the scope of services and insurance costs, among other things.

According to the evaluation committee, MetroCare scored consistently in the 90th percentile, while Taylor County EMS scored between 60-77, and City Ambulance scored mostly in the 60s.

Additionally, Henderson pointed out that according to Texas Code 262.030, the award of a contract should go to the lowest and best evaluated offer.

He also said he was unsure of where MetroCare would operate out of if awarded the contract with Taylor County.

When the idea of a profit share came up in the Commissioners Court meeting, Assistant District Attorney Frank Stamey cautioned the commissioners against a possible profit share.

Stamey said recent litigation brought questions of what a profit share is versus what could be considered a kickback.

At this point in the meeting, Commissioner Randy Williams brought up the "emotional feature to this decision," saying the court needed to make the best decision for everyone regardless of emotions tied to the debate.

Williams said the court's decision could likely end Taylor County EMS.

Then an audience member shouted, "Why are we trying to fix something that ain't broke?"

After the outburst, Taylor County Judge Phil Crowley said members of the public were not to speak out.

The audience member subsequently left the meeting.

Williams asked for a motion to take no action Tuesday, voting instead to defer action until Williams could find out more information.

Commissioner Chuck Statler said, "We have been grinding on this thing for months."

But he voted in favor of tabling the discussion until the April 26 Commissioners Court meeting.

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This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Commissioners Court stalls out; no action taken on ambulance contract