One ambulance service may be in, another out
One private ambulance service may be prohibited to operate in Warren County for not complying with new county regulations just as another service may receive the OK to begin operations after fulfilling the requirements of those same regulations.
The new regulations call for a yearly application and permit process with a Dec. 1 deadline, but since the regulations weren?t approved by the full county commission until Nov. 20 last year, this year?s deadline was extended until Jan. 10 to give both private services, Pro-Med Transportation, a new applicant based in Knoxville, and Med-Stat EMS, out of Coffee County, a chance to apply.
The regulations require a non-refundable yearly $500 application fee, and if the company is approved after inspection, a $4,500 yearly permit fee.
According to County Executive John Pelham, both companies were mailed a letter dated Dec. 15 last year advising them of the Jan. 10 deadline, giving them ample time to apply.
?We heard from Pro-Med,? Pelham said. ?But we never heard from Med-Stat. Pro-Med applied, Med-Stat didn?t.?
Pelham then sent a second letter to Med-Stat on Jan. 17 informing owner and operator Kevin Fowler that his failure to apply was taken to indicate the company did not wish to operate in the county in 2007, and was therefore required to cease its operations in Warren County as of Jan. 31.
But then, in a surprise move, Fowler sent an employee to the county executive?s office this Monday with a completed application and the $500 application fee. Fowler, who has attended several of the meetings to draft the regulations, has made it clear all along he feels the regulations are restrictive.
However, Pelham says he feels the regulations are necessary, and that Med-Stat should be willing to adhere to them like any other business.
?He?s operated in Warren County for six years,? Pelham said. ?He?s never had a business license, he?s never paid any taxes in Warren County, and then he?s 19 days late on his application.?
Pelham says he called Fowler to discuss the late application.
?I told him, ?Kevin, I received your application and check, but it?s too late,?? Pelham said. ?And he said, ?Well I had to apply.?
?And I said, ?What do you mean you had to apply? I don?t understand that,?? Pelham continued. ?And he said, ?Well I had to apply to let you know that I desired to do business in Warren County.??
Pelham said he feels this was probably done to indicate the company had made a formal effort to apply in anticipation of legal action, which proved to be accurate, since county attorney Larry Stanley advised Pelham on Monday that Med-Stat has indeed attempted to file suit against the county. The company had turned in paperwork to Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley, who declined to sign it due to conflict of interest, since Larry Stanley is his father.
Pelham said sources have informed him that Fowler is also involved in litigation with Coffee County, so the move was somewhat expected.
?I feel like what has happened is his lawyer told him to go ahead and apply, and then after our response, they would take some kind of action,? Pelham said. ?I?m afraid this is going to be a problem.?
Though Pro-Med has met the application deadline and technically passed the inspection process, according to Pelham, neither Pro-Med or Med-Stat will be formally approved or denied until a formal vote at the Safety Committee meeting scheduled for 4:30 p.m. today.
?But I feel sure they will decline Med-Stat?s application,? Pelham said.
Even with all the problems, Pelham did say Med-Stat can apply again next year and as long as it meets the county deadlines, regulations and inspection, could be allowed to operate in the county again.