Clarksville exploring its own ambulance service

Nov. 22—CLARKSVILLE — Clarksville is considering creating its own ambulance service.

Some town officials are expressing concern over EMS response times after the death of political candidate and beloved Clarksville community member David "Red" Worrall.

Town officials held a public work session Tuesday evening to discuss the logistics and funding of creating a town-based EMS to be used in place of current provider New Chapel EMS.

Ambulance services in Clark County are provided by a private company as opposed to being owned by individual municipalities.

Clarksville Fire Chief Brandon Skaggs said if the town had its own service, then he envisions Clarksville owning and operating three ambulances.

The EMS division would be its own entity and fall under the umbrella of the fire department, however it would have its own staff.

"We want to be self-sufficient and not rely on a private company for our citizens and guests," Skaggs said. "We can control training and personnel (if we have our own service).

"As a chief, I don't have any authority over anything at that company, and if we see something we don't like, or do like, we can't address it other than calling to say 'This is what happened.' If we own those ambulances and we employ our own people, we can set our own policies. It would be a better service."

Clarksville has never had its own ambulance service, Skaggs said.

According to a presentation shown at the work session, it would cost around $1.2 million for Clarksville to buy three new, fully-equipped ambulances.

The town currently pays $606,000 annually to 911 dispatch, which covers dispatch services for police, fire and EMS. Separately, Clark County takes $275,000 each year from the towns LOIT public safety funds to pay for its share of EMS services.

The presentation also outlined proposed personnel needs for a Clarksville-owned service. If the town owns three ambulances, then it would staff one EMS Director, three medics, 12 advanced EMTs and six EMTs to operate them. The estimated staffing cost for three ambulances would be $2.3 million, including employee benefits.

If the town purchases two ambulances, staffing would be similar, however no EMTs would be hired. The estimated staffing cost for operating two ambulances, including employee benefits, would be $1.7 million.

"It's nothing against New Chapel, I don't want to discredit their service to our community," Skaggs said. "My main focus is the town of Clarksville and the residents and guests. It's hard for me to worry about the entire county, I have to look at my response area. I believe this is the best foot forward for us."

Clarksville had been considering its own ambulance service previously, and Town Council members recently expressed concerns with ambulance response times after Worrall's death.

Worrall, who was running for Town Council, collapsed at a polling site and died on Election Day. 911 records show it took more than 25 minutes after the first call into emergency dispatchers was made for an ambulance to get him to Clark Memorial Hospital.

The national standard for EMS response times is around eight minutes.

The News and Tribune contacted New Chapel EMS for comment about the story, however did not hear back by Wednesday evening.

Some Town Council members told the News and Tribune they are in support of Clarksville creating its own EMS service.

"EMS is a priority for all of us. What happened with Red Worrall's ambulance response time is unacceptable," said Clarksville Town Council Vice President Karen Henderson. "We will never know that if Red had had the standard response time of 8 minutes, if he would still be with us. We're all saddened by his untimely passing. We need a dedicated ambulance service in our town to ensure this never happens to a Clarksville resident again."

Clarksville Town Council President Ryan Ramsey agreed.

"The service that the Town of Clarksville is currently receiving from New Chapel is unacceptable," he said. "Our residents deserve better and we intend to explore every option available through continued conversations with the county commissioners and Dr. (Eric) Yazel."

District 4 Town Council member Mike Mustain said response times and efficiency should be a "paramount concern" for the town.

"...Unfortunately, many times it seems we settle for good until we are hit in the face with the problem of good," Mustain said. "Good isn't good enough, we must do better, whenever and however possible."

The Floyd County government has also considered other EMS options beyond or in conjunction with New Chapel. Jamey Noel, the founder of New Chapel and the former Clark County sheriff, is facing 15 felonies after being arrested Nov. 8 on charges including corrupt business influence, theft and ghost employment.