Published Dec. 14 in the Kentucky Standard

Nelson County to assume EMS control by July

By DAVID GREER
The Kentucky Standard

BARDSDOWN — Nelson County Judge Executive Dean Watts used Wednesday morning’s chamber of commerce breakfast meeting as an opportunity to talk publicly about Fiscal Court’s decision to buy the Nelson County EMS Inc. ambulance service from Joey and Eva Prewitt.

It was announced Tuesday afternoon, after a closed-door meeting between Fiscal Court and the Prewitts, that the county intends to buy the service.

“It’s a business I’d rather not be in ... but it’s a business important enough for us to operate,” Watts told Bardstown-Nelson County Chamber of Commerce members meeting at the Talbott Tavern.

“The quality of service we’ve grown accustomed to is important to Fiscal Court,” Watts said.

Under county operation, Watts said the service will retain its employees, continue to serve all parts of the county and retain the Prewitts for one to two years.

The two parties had negotiated for several months, Watts said. The Prewitts have operated the service for 18 years but cuts in Medicaid and Medicare payments have reduced the business’s profitability — despite an annual $80,000 subsidy from the county, plus the use of three county-owned ambulances and two-way radio equipment. The service’s revenue has been flat — that is, shown no growth — for the past five to six years, Watts said.

Even though other companies had shown interest in operating the service, Watts said he and the mayors of Bardstown, New Haven, Bloomfield and Fairfield agreed that maintaining local control was preferred.

There will be a written purchase agreement between the county and the Prewitts by Jan. 1, Watts said, and the county will assume control by July.

Watts did not disclose the purchase price, Wednesday, but said that information would be released soon. He said Tuesday the ambulance service was appraised at $1.2 million recently but that the purchase price was lower.

Even though ambulances have been stationed in New Haven and Bloomfield, there has been little EMS staff presence in those communities for the past year, Watts said.

“Look for us to break even in the ambulance business — it may be a rough year or two,” the judge executive told chamber members.

Watts emphasized that the service will be operated as a business.

“There won’t be any free rides because the county is getting into the business,” he said.

Eventually, it’s hoped one centralized dispatch center, operated from the new sheriff’s office adjacent to the new county courthouse at the former Bardstown Plaza location, will dispatch all local public service agencies, Watts said. Taking over the Prewitts’ two-way radio transmitting tower site would make central dispatching feasible, he said, because it’s capable of reaching all parts of the county.

Then, one call to 911 would put the public in contact with all local police, fire and ambulance services. Now, different numbers must be called to reach different agencies.

Watts said current EMS employees will become county employees and will qualify for the county’s health insurance and retirement plans. Both are good benefits, he said, and will be an upgrade over what EMS workers have now.

Watts said the Prewitts are recognized around Kentucky now for running a very professional EMS service.

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