07-A EMS 6 Mo. Status Report - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

LifeTech defaulted on its three-yeaz contract. Grayson County had agreed to pay the company $184,800 a yeaz to provide ambulance services. "We had already paid for this month," Schneider said. He said the county is out about $7,200 for the month. Other cities that were part of the contract between LifeTech and the county had already paid the ambulance service for a full year. He said it is unlikely anyone will be able to get any money back from LifeTech anytime soon. Grayson County Attorney Joe Brown told a meeting of county and rural city officials that he will file notice with LiFeTech's creditors that the county's contract with the ambulance service entitles the county to part of LifeTech's accounts receivable, but he did not expect that to be a quick fix. Brown said the notice would be the first step in a long legal process that would probably put Grayson County people in a line of creditors seeking money from LifeTech. Brown also told the assembled group that seizing two of LifeTech's ambulances was allowed under the county's contract, but it probably would not be wise to use those ambulances to provide services to area residents. "There are some concerns there about who actually owns the ambulances and about insurance," Brown told the group. Grayson County Precinct 4 Commissioner Gene Short asked how long the county could hold the ambulances and Brown said the contract was not clear on that point. "But the county has no long-term interest in those ambulances," Brown said. Schneider added that the contract clearly would require the county to lease the ambulances from either LifeTech or the company that actually owns the ambulances. After speaking with Van Alstyne Mayor Benny Edwazds, Schneider said the LifeTech ambulance seized in Van Alstyne probably would be returned to LifeTech. The second ambulance might be held for a back-up in Whitesboro for a while, Schneider said. Schneider, Short and Precinct 1 Commissioner Johnny Waldrip all said the county will be in a stronger position to seek a new ambulance service provider now that Bells-Savoy has taken over for LifeTech. "It certainly leaves us with more options than we had before," Schneider said. He said the county is aiready talking with at least one ambulance provider and has been contacted by a couple more providers. He said no matter which provider the county ends up selecting, the new contract will most probably cost more than the one with LifeTech.