Ephrata dismisses Parks and Rec director

EPHRATA — Ephrata city officials are considering options to replace Parks and Recreation Director Traci Bennet after her employment was terminated. Ephrata City Council members confirmed Bennet’s firing on a 6-0 vote at the regular meeting Aug. 16.

Mayor Bruce Reim referred questions on Bennet’s firing to city attorney Anna Franz, who said there would be no comment.

City Administrator Ray Towry said Thursday that the procedure for replacing Bennet will be up to Reim.

“That would be the Mayor’s decision,” he said.

The city has the option to promote from within the department, look for a new director or conduct what Towry called a “slight reorganization.”

In other business, council members voted unanimously to approve a contract for emergency medical services with Lifeline Ambulance.

Ephrata Fire Chief Jeremy Burns said the company had been providing EMS in Ephrata since July 1. Previously the city contracted with American Medical Rescue, but AMR announced last spring it would no longer operate in Grant County after June 30.

Burns said the contract would be similar to the previous contract with AMR.

The contract is set to expire in June 2026, but has a clause to renew automatically each year, Burns said. It can be canceled with 90 days' notice from either party.

The average base rate for patients for a mode of transport is $1,743, with a mileage rate of $36 per mile, Burns said. Non-transport services will cost up to $175. Those include treatments such as lift assists (providing help to lift someone) or helping a patient with diabetic problems. Rates can be adjusted once each year.

In answer to a question from Reim, Burns said no other EMS company bid on the contract.

“To be honest I thought we would seek a proposal from AMR, and the other area fire chiefs were like, ‘Absolutely not,’” Burns said.

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.