Elyria committee recommends continuing private EMS contract with LifeCare Services

A Elyria special committee voted to recommend that the city continue contracting with a private vendor for emergency medical services and ambulance coverage, citing financial and service-quality considerations, and asked staff to gather additional dispatch data before making further operational changes.

The motion, made by Mr. Sierra, proposed that “the city of Elyria continue to contract with a private vendor for EMS and ambulance service as it is in the best interest of the city financially and from a quality of service standpoint at this time.” An unnamed committee member seconded the motion and the chair put the question; committee members voted and the motion was declared carried. Director Dearing later described the vote as unanimously passed and said staff will prepare a committee report to forward to the full council.

The vote follows vocal reluctance among some committee members to place a levy on the ballot to pay for changes. One committee member said the research and outreach done by the group and to the fire chief led them to conclude, "we can't afford this," and therefore to prefer continuing the private contract over pursuing a local levy.

Committee member Mr. Prochnow outlined steps staff have already taken to reduce unnecessary fire responses and improve efficiency. He said the city has changed how it collects call data to get a clearer picture of the type of calls coming in, is working with Lorain County 911 to improve dispatch information, and is roughly 60 days into a 90-day data-collection period intended to inform which calls require a fire response in addition to EMS. "I think that 90 days is a fair amount of time to gather that information. I would say we're about 60 days into that process," Prochnow said, adding that staff and the chief will review the findings once that initial period is complete.

Prochnow also described operational and capital steps intended to improve responsiveness and efficiency: planned redistricting of response zones; moving forward with architectural contracting and permitting this year for a Broad Street fire station build-out to house a second pumper and up to seven personnel (with construction targeted in 2027); and interim work including replacing a failed generator (estimated 12–14 week lead time) and installing a dedicated in-station call-communication (locution) device.

Director Dearing said staff, with the secretary's help, will prepare and circulate a committee report reflecting the recommendation to continue the private EMS contract and will forward that report to the full council. With no additional business, the committee adjourned.

What happens next: staff will finish the initial 90-day call-data collection, the chief and staff will review the results to recommend any changes to which calls require a fire response, and the committee report will go to the full city council for consideration.