VAS Ambulance Service Corporation will be operated by Northeast Benton County Volunteer Fire Department for 90 days following the signing of an operation agreement signed by the chairwomen of both the VAS and NEBCO boards of directors.
Dorothy Williams’ and Kara Funk’s signatures appear on the last page of the Operation Agreement drafted Thursday night, as the boards of the NEBCO and VAS met to hash out details of a trial agreement in anticipation of the merger of the two companies.
The 18-paragraph agreement states the boards of both companies have determined a combination of operations the “best and most effective use of resources.”
NEBCO will act as a contractor for VAS and carry out ambulance operations in the Emergency Medical Service District, which includes the NEBCO fire service area as well as the Avoca Volunteer Fire Department service area, on a trial basis. VAS agrees to transfer to NEBCO assets connected with operation of providing an ambulance service during the trial period, along with agreeing to NEBCO’s use of EMSD funds.
The trial period began at 12 a.m. Friday and will continue until review “on or before Aug. 1, 2010,” at which time the two companies will evaluate the success of the combined efforts and decide whether to proceed with the steps necessary to make the combination permanent.
According to the agreement, NEBCO has 30 days to apply “for this ambulance service to be Advanced Life Support, as the term is defined under Arkansas law.”
Rob Taylor, NEBCO fire chief, has already applied to the State of Arkansas Department of Health to operate under an ALS license.
Grady Allen, VAS board member, suggested before this merger goes to a vote among the NEBCO area members, the two companies get the ALS ambulance up and running.
“I want the community to feel good about this,” he said, to which Taylor agreed.
In an attempt to define what a successful operation would mean, Taylor said the ALS ambulance would be running and financially stable.
“If we can’t do the job, we’re going to give them back everything,” he said.
NEBCO will not be able to turn over the ALS license back to VAS in the instance the merger is a failure. VAS would then be forced to return to Basic Life Support, as it has operated for more than 28 years.
“We are upgrading a service, how can we turn around and give it back?” Taylor said, as both boards agreed they do not expect failure.
Both groups agreed the issue is making sure residents of the EMSD area have an ambulance service available. The ultimate goal, Taylor said, is to have two ALS units in operation.
In order to merge the two non-profit companies legally, dissolving VAS completely in the process, two thirds of the voting membership must vote in favor of the merger. NEBCO has members within its district and VAS does not.
George Spence, Benton County attorney, recommended the boards notify NEBCO members in the same manor they would for an annual meeting or other special meetings through newsletter. He said the amended articles of incorporation need to go in front of the members to make it clear NEBCO is authorized to take over VAS and run ALS.
Allen agreed: “Why have any arguments, let’s just make it clear. People are either going to be for this or against it.”
There is no time restriction on when the boards can request a vote from the membership. But both VAS and NEBCO agree they need time to prove to the community this merger will be successful.
The two boards motioned separately to sign the agreement to the trial period and passed the motions unanimously.
“It’s quite a task and very important to the community. I greatly appreciate you guys doing this,” Taylor said. “This is a very big feat for the NEBCO Fire Department, it’s going to take us to another level.
“We also need to show our appreciation to the paramedics, we have well-trained personnel right off the start.”
“The community didn’t turn out tonight ... it’s disappointing they didn’t get to see these two boards work so well together. I am very privileged to be a part of these two organizations,” Funk said.