Committee advances three supplemental ambulance contracts and discusses in-house staffing plans

The committee advanced three three-year supplemental ambulance contracts to the full council with recommendations to approve and discussed a longer-term plan to build in-house emergency-medical capacity.

Deputy Commissioner Derek Hillman of the Fire Department said the contracts are with Arch EMS (contract 6007737), AmeriPro EMS Michigan LLC (6007727) and Superior (6007741). He said the three contractors provide dedicated units strategically located across the city — AmeriPro on the west side, Hart in the central area and Superior on the east side — and that the arrangement can be ramped up or down as operational needs change.

"We strategically locate throughout the city ... so AmeriPro is on the West Side of the city. Hart would be in the central area of the city, and Superior is on the East Side of the city," Hillman said.

Vice Chair Denzel McCampbell asked whether the department plans to increase its own EMT capacity to reduce reliance on contractors; Hillman said the department is working with budget staff and council to implement a plan to bring more services in-house while maintaining private–public partnerships for flexibility.

The committee approved sending the contracts to new business with a recommendation to approve, and asked the Fire Department to brief council members further on plans to transition services when appropriate.