Towns may develop plan for EMS levy

Ephrata approves new contract with fire district

EPHRATA - Some towns contracted with Grant County Fire District No. 5 for ambulance services are interested in developing a countywide levy to pay for advanced life support.

Ephrata City Administrator Wes Crago said Ephrata-area groups recently discussed devising a plan by the end of the year about presenting a countywide EMS levy before voters. Voters could see the levy within five years to 10 years, he told the Ephrata City Council Wednesday.

The groups, Soap Lake and Grant County Fire Districts 3, 7, 12 and 13, jointly developed Ephrata's contract for emergency services with Grant County Fire District No. 5, Crago said. Each group will sign their own contract.

"We agreed it needs to be priority," he said. The levy would be a more constant source of support instead of the current "ups, downs and knee jerks," he said.

The Ephrata City Council approved a $29,610 annual contract for emergency medical services with Grant County Fire District No. 5 on Wednesday after previously approving a version that was $300 cheaper.

Crago said Grant County Fire District No. 5 wanted more of a financial cushion so it wouldn't be subsidizing services for Ephrata. Changing the definition of a medical call resulted in 100 fewer calls being generated for Ephrata, which means the cost per call needed to be raised, he said.

He said Soap Lake and Grant County Fire Districts No. 7, 12 and 13 haven't signed EMS contracts with Grant County Fire District No. 5.

It's possible the other districts are waiting to see what Ephrata does before taking their next steps, he said.

Ephrata Councilmember Kathleen Allstot asked if Grant County Fire District No. 5 would come back to Ephrata if the other districts didn't sign their contracts.

Crago said Grant County Fire District No. 5 might come back to Ephrata if that was the case and there is a 180-day termination clause within the contract.

"What makes me nervous, is that we're a third of a way through this agreement," Ephrata councilmember Ben Davis said of the first agreement.

He added that the city isn't in a position to "legally or morally" pay more than it does now.