Glen Ellyn OKs process to provide own ambulances

The third part of a process to provide for village-owned ambulances was approved by Glen Ellyn on Tuesday, allowing the new service to start June 15.

The village currently uses Paramedic Billing Services, Inc. of Elmhurst to help facilitate the fees residents will be paying when they use the village's two ambulances.

However, Deputy Village Manager Curt Barrett, who organized the deal, had some reservations about relationships with the company. They have shown a history of not responding to village e-mails and phone calls in a timely manner, he said Tuesday.

He still recommended the approval because the village may break its contract with the company.

In the past week, he said the company did not respond when he called about the finalized ordinance. This has also happened in the past, Barrett said.

"Obviously we want to avoid that as best we can," he said.

The company's president sent a letter just before the board meeting expressing his interest in acquiring the village's business.

"We look forward to a very bright future," Barrett said.

The village sill has to work out a fee schedule for paramedic services.

With the approval on Tuesday, Paramedic Billing Services will receive 5 percent of the annual collections for ambulance services.

Earlier this year, the village also purchased two of its own ambulances and approved a paramedic contract. Before this, the village had been using an outside contractor to provide ambulances in town.

However, when they looked into it, staff found out that owning and operating its own ambulances would turn out to be more feasible for Glen Ellyn. The village was also looking to amp up its ambulances, since the 1 1/2 vehicles that were provided by outside contract didn't meet demand in town.

So far, the village will be paying $834,000 for paramedic services and purchased the ambulances for $231,488. Glen Ellyn also paid $21,660 for cots and $51,175 for defibrillators.