As Porter County’s ambulance contract with Northwest Health nears its end, the County Council is concerned about how ambulance service in the county should be provided – and funded – in the future.
The contract, which expires Dec. 31, covers areas of the county not covered by other providers.
The council appointed resident Amy Gilbert, a long-time member of the Chesterton Fire Department, to the Ambulance Committee as an advisory member and council members Michelle, Harris, R-At-large, and Greg Simms, D-3rd, as voting members.
Gilbert was chosen over former Portage Fire Chief Randy Wilkening, who was also nominated for the position, in a 4-2 vote. Like Valparaiso, the Portage Fire Department also provides EMS service.
Simms and Councilman Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, voted for Wilkening. Council members Mike Brickner, R-At-large; Andy Vasquez, R-4th; Ronald “Red” Stone, R-1st; and Andy Bozak, R-At-large, voted for Gilbert. Harris was absent.
Bozak, who nominated Gilbert, said she joined the fire department in 2003 and served as deputy chief last year. Her experience also includes serving as a Northwest Health paramedic.
Another applicant, Gary Miller, lives in Highland but owns property in Burns Harbor. Miller, who owned Prompt Ambulance for 40 years, now serves as executive director of the Indiana EMS Association and was chair of the state’s EMS Commission for 10 years.
Prompt Ambulance provided EMS services under contract with various local governments in Lake County.
Miller’s application for the Porter County Ambulance Committee mentioned that even if he wasn’t appointed to the committee, he would still participate to offer his insights.
Rivas, who nominated Wilkening, said he thinks the committee is the Board of Commissioners’ way of passing the buck. “This committee would have no authority to enter into negotiations,” he said.
With the Northwest Health contract expiring Dec. 31, there’s not enough time to come up with another solution for providing EMS service before a new contract, likely at a higher price, is approved.
Council Vice President Stone said the council complains about the commissioners too often. “Now we actually have a voice,” he said.
Rivas said the county needs to investigate alternative ways to provide EMS services. “I believe we should look at everything, and that includes fire territories,” he said.
“Those townships are going to have to do that themselves,” Stone said.
Valparaiso led the way by working with Center Township to create a fire territory that provides fire protection and EMS services in all of Center Township and Valparaiso, Rivas noted.
Stone said Liberty and Jackson townships could be another fire territory. Liberty Volunteer Fire Department also serves Jackson.
“We definitely know something’s got to be done,” Simms said. He suggested seeing how other counties handle EMS services.
With the Northwest Health contract, Rivas said, “We’ve privatized half of the ambulance service in this county.”
Before the initial contract with the hospital to provide EMS service, the county briefly provided a countywide ambulance service.
“We do need to do something. You’re all correct in that,” Council President Vasquez said.
The township trustees should be looking at this issue to come up with solutions, he said.
“It’s a very, very important subject for everyone in the county,” Vasquez said.
In other business, the council approved giving $125,000 in grants from the county’s opioid lawsuit settlement proceeds to five recipients. The Board of Commissioners had previously approved the Opioid Settlement Committee’s recommendations.
The Caring Place in Valparaiso, which received $40,000, plans to use it to expand its domestic violence recovery program and fund transportation and food bank services to clients.
Moraine House in Valparaiso, which received $25,000, plans to repair the house and remodel rooms for men recovering from addictions.
Portage Recovery Association, which received $25,000, plans to expand programs in its Recovery World concept. The group, which recently opened its new facility in Portage, provides a library, recreational area, group programs and professional career development assistance. Jake Monhaut was named the association’s executive director Monday.
Three20 Recovery, in Chesterton, plans to use its $25,000 to expand peer-led recovery programs including art, music, fitness and cooking/nutrition. The money will also support the BrainPoint neurofeedback program.
Duneland School Corp. is using its $10,000 to expand in-school programs and resources within the Department of Teaching and Learning’s Drug Deferment Program and peer mentoring mental health programs.
The committee received 10 applications for funding.
Vasquez said interested groups can apply again next year, with applications available Jan. 1.
Commissioner Barb Regnitz, R-Center, said the opioid settlement money is expected to run out after eight years.
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
