Manchester, LifeMed reach tentative pact
By SHEILA RHOADES
Thursday, May 8, 2008 9:50 PM EDT
NORTH MANCHESTER - The problems with emergency medical services for the town may finally be solved ... at least for the next five years.
A tentative agreement has been reached with LifeMed owner Chris Brown for extended emergency medical services for the northern part of the county.
Town Manager Dan Hannaford said at Wednesday night's meeting of the Town Council that the contract is now in Brown's hands.
Opting to pay a flat fee to avoid an increase each year, Hannaford said the agreement will be to pay LifeMed $237,000 a year for the next five years.
"They will provide two full-time ambulances, but only actually charge us for one," Hannaford explained. He added that when the first agreement was instituted in 2002, the lowest bid for ambulance service by an outside entity was for $377,000 per year.
Although it is not "official" yet, the new contract is essentially the same as the one signed almost six years ago: In addition to North Manchester's share of $108,850 per year, Wabash County has agreed to pay $127,500, Manchester College will pay $850, Timbercrest Senior Living Community has agreed to pay $1,400, and Peabody Retirement Community will pay $1,700. The remainder of the tab will be picked up through a monthly residential surcharge of $1.50, public and governmental, $30 and industrial, $75.
The preceding numbers may vary according to the finalized contract at the time of signing.
The Council also heard from Umbaugh & Associates Manager Jeff Rowe, who offered an overview of the proposed revenue bond ordinance for the upcoming project of building a new water treatment plant.
The state-mandated facility is expected to cost upward of $3 million and will be located at Ind. 114 and Sycamore Street.
Last year Umbaugh conducted a water rate study which resulted in a 40 percent rate adjustment. Rowe added that "there will be another increase to come."
Rowe said there will be a not-to-exceed amount of $4.1 million included in the ordinance and the town will seek a State Revolving Loan (SRL) due to the promise of a lower interest rate. A rate analysis will then lay the ground work for the financing, which will be submitted with the grant application.
Bids on the project will likely be accepted between June and August.
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