DECATUR -- An agreement between the cities of Gravette and Decatur will assure the continuation of ambulance service to Decatur area residents and businesses.
Gravette Mayor Kurt Maddox contacted Decatur Mayor Bob Tharp asking for a rate increase for ambulance service from the Gravette Fire Department.
This action prompted Tharp to research other options for ambulance service for the city. After contacting other area municipalities, Tharp came up with a formula to calculate the average cost of ambulance service based on population and total cost. He found that Centerton, with a population of 9,515, paid the city of Bentonville $100,000 per year for ambulance service, which translates to a rate of $10.51 per resident per year. Cave Springs, population 1,931, pays Bentonville $21,600 a year which translates to a cost of $11.19 per resident per year. Gentry, with a population of 3,158, pays Siloam Springs $35,000 per year, costing its residents $11.08 a year.
Tharp found that the increase Maddox requested would put the cost of Decatur's ambulance service higher then the rates of the surrounding communities.
Currently, Decatur pays Gravette $7,500 for service. With the city's population at 1,699 that translated to $4.42 per resident.
During the May 11 Decatur city council meeting, Tharp explained the situation to the council and made a recommendation to offer Gravette an additional $11,189, bringing the total to $18,689 for 2015 service. This would raise the rates for each Decatur resident to $11 per year.
"I just want our businesses and residents to have an advanced life support ambulance service at a rate they can afford," Tharp said.
In a hand-delivered letter to Gravette City Hall on May 12, Tharp laid out his proposal to Maddox and the Gravette city council. Enclosed in the letter was a check to cover services for the remainder of 2015.
"I explained Decatur's position on the ambulance service to Mayor Maddox and presented the check in the amount of $11,189," Tharp said.
During the May 14 Gravette City Council meeting, Maddox presented the Decatur proposal. After careful review, the Gravette council voted to retain the contract between the Gravette Fire Department and the city of Decatur for the sum of $18,689.
"I am pleased that the Gravette council decided to accept our offer," Tharp said. "The Gravette Fire Department has always given our community excellent service and will continue that same commitment to our residents and businesses in the future."
General News on 06/03/2015