The process of considering supplanting Ambulance service in Del Norte has begun.
The North Coast Emergency Medical Service (NCEMS) has acquired the services of consultant EndPoint, last month and disbursed $97,000 to the consultant. The funds for this study originated from a 3-2 vote in favoring the consideration of 9-1-1 ambulance service by the Board of Supervisors.
Many in the community have expressed doubt on the Board authorizing this exploratory project calling the hunt wasteful and frivolous.
Over near four decades of service there has been no formal complaints or major incidents of dereliction of service against Del Norte Ambulance.
The question lingers: Why is the Board wishing to withdraw the Exclusive Operating Authorizing (EOA) for ambulance service? No clear answers have surfaced.
The three assenting AYE votes from Supervisors Joey Borges, Darrin Short and Valerie Starkey have yet to explain their displeasure with Del Norte Ambulance.
Meanwhile the initial $97,000 comes from an emergency account from the Department of Health and Human Services. DHHS failed to acknowledge the “emergency” associated with the disbursement.
It is very possible that Del Norte Ambulance will retain the exclusivity on providing 9-1-1 Ambulance service, but the continuing action may add as much as another $60,000 in fees to consultant EndPoint and the in-perpetuity of the EOA will be terminated.
When Humboldt County was faced with a similar circumstance, Humboldt elected to “grandfather” in its existing service to the existing provider at zero cost to the County.
The three phase process will terminate by March 2027 when a Request for Proposal has been formulated.
NCEMS / EndPoint kick off meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at the Board Chambers at 2PM.
The public is invited.