Ambulance panel continues to mull over service options

The parish Ambulance Service Committee now has two more pieces of information to consider as it moves toward a recommendation for an emergency service and rescue provider outside the Ruston city limits.

The panel learned Thursday that the Lincoln Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 is interested in doing parish wide rescue, and that it will cost $547,148 for the Ruston Fire Department to provide just EMS parish wide.

The committee plans to meet again June 24 to resume considering its options and how to pay for them.

RFD is currently providing both rescue and EMS. But the city of Ruston has told the Lincoln Parish Police Jury it cannot continue the services for the $30,000 annual payment the parish makes.

That fee hasn’t changed in 30 years.

Ruston wants $645,604 annually to continue both services. RFD Chief Chris Womack told the committee Thursday the city would provide just ambulance service for $547,148 a year plus some mechanism to keep up with inflation.

Womack said Ruston wants a five-year agreement with either option. He said the committee, and ultimately, the parish has three choices so far as RFD’s involvement: continue using it for rescue and EMS, opt for EMS only, or choose another provider altogether.

“At some point in the near future, we need to know A, B, or C,” Womack said.

If RFD stays involved, Womack has said it will need to hire additional personnel and buy more equipment to adequately cover both Ruston and the parish. The city will start its 2023 budget discussions in July.

Meantime, LPFD board Chairman Richard Aillet said his agency wants to explore providing rescue service

“We’d be very interested in getting into the rescue business and we’re discussing the cost,” Aillet said.

The police jury and governing boards of parish municipalities will vote on whatever recommendations the committee makes. The panel still must tackle how to pay for the emergency services.