City, Gold Cross close to ambulance deal

More than two years after Augusta let its contract lapse with emergency ambulance provider Gold Cross, the two sides are close to a long-term deal, officials for both sides said. Even a critic of the deal concedes it has enough votes to pass.

After the city offered less than half of its previous subsidy of $1.1 million a year and Gold Cross refused, Augusta let the contract expire at the end of 2016 and the company has been operating without one since. But seven commissioners have agreed to proceed with working on a contract when the Augusta Commission holds a special called session Tuesday before its regular committee meetings. .

"It’s close," Mayor Pro Tem Sean Frantom said. "I don’t think we’re going to get there (today)."

"I think we’re right on the cusp," said Steven Vincent, COO for Gold Cross. "Probably within the next week, it would be my hope to have a finalized agreement."

The two sides have agreed on the major issues with the contract. Gold Cross agreed to start off at the city's offer of a $400,000 subsidy for the rest of this year, which would increase to $600,000 for 2020 and then to $650,000 for the next two years, the amount Gold Cross requested, with two one-year renewal options at that rate. Gold Cross had requested a seven-year contract but settled for one that could become essentially 5 1/2 years, Vincent said.

Both sides agreed on Gold Cross having eight ambulances available around the clock, with the city Fire Department operating three similarly. Gold Cross agreed to staff each of its ambulances with at least an Advanced EMT and preferably a paramedic, which the city had originally requested and which Gold Cross initially wanted greater flexibility over. And Gold Cross agreed to send a letter within 60 days saying it would not oppose the city's request to reopen the question of who is designated the emergency ambulance provider for the county, known as the zone designation, that the city and Gold Cross have fought over for years and is currently held by Gold Cross.

Frantom said those are significant concessions and make the deal work for everyone.

"It’s a win-win for both parties involved," he said. "It’s a win for everybody involved and for the citizens."

Gold Cross has tried to be reasonable and the city has tried to be reasonable and both sides are giving in on something, Vincent said.

"That's what happens in a negotiation," he said.

After years of butting heads, both sides are seeing the wisdom of reaching a deal, Vincent said.

"I think we both understand that working together would be better for everyone," he said.

Even though he was in on the negotiating committee, Commissioner Dennis Williams said he is not in favor of the deal and will be voting against it, although he conceded, "They’ll have the six votes" needed to pass it. He does not think the contract is fair to the city and in particular is opposed to the subsidy.

"Gold Cross is a business," he said. "Is it the government’s responsibility to take care of a business’ shortfall when they don’t make a profit? That’s the chance everybody takes when they go into business."

On the agenda for Augusta Commission committees Tuesday:

• Requests from Mayor Hardie Davis to create a strategy to ensure Augusta is treated fairly in the 2020 Census as well as establishing commission goals and strategies for the next three years as well as a strategy for economic development;

• Improvements for Riverwalk Augusta, including new drinking fountains that would accommodate pets;

• Agreements with Georgia Power for the company to maintain street lights at major intersections, such as Interstate 20 and Washington Road.

On the agenda