Oct. 05--LIMA -- Lima Fire Department is asking City Council to approve the purchase of a new ambulance to handle the increased calls for service after MedCorp closed and dropped Lima service.
Council will vote on legislation at its Monday meeting approving the $220,000 expense for the ambulance and related equipment. Council meets at 7 p.m. Monday at the Municipal Center, 50 Town Square.
MedCorp Ambulance Service abruptly closed it doors Sept. 6 and left the city's two other emergency service providers to handle the load. At the time, MedCorp Vice President of Operations Fred Isch confirmed the closing but declined comment about it.
While the closure was given with little notice, the Lima Fire Department and Lima-Allen County Paramedics were ready for it. Officials at the two organizations had been watching MedCorp leave other similar-sized communities and prepared for the day when it would leave Lima.
The MedCorp closure put both of Lima Fire Department's ambulances into service, and the department needs a third in reserve that needs to be fully equipped in case all three are needed at the same time, Fire Chief Mark Heffner said.
Heffner said the department's annual net income from transports will increase between $75,000 and $184,000. In a letter to the council, Heffner said a more exact number isn't possible because of policy changes coming from the Affordable Health Care Act and Medicaid.
In other business, the council will:
-- Vote on submitting an application to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for a $4 million sewer lift station construction project.
-- Vote on a contract with Spherion for a junk auto enforcement officer.
-- Vote on the purchase of a plow truck and salt spreader, and also two passenger vehicles for Public Works.
-- Vote on expanding the Downtown Lima Inc.'s decorative banner program through the city's new light poles on Market Street.
Copyright 2013 - The Lima News, Ohio
