EDGERTON — The Edgerton Fire Protection District took a step Thursday toward taking over its ambulance service from a private contractor.
The district board voted unanimously Thursday to begin buying ambulances and other equipment, Fire Chief Brian Demrow said.
No date for the takeover has been set, however.
The district's longtime EMS contractor is Curtis Curtis Ambulance of Milwaukee. The district has contracted with Curtis for the first half of this year.
District officials believe they can run the service for less than Curtis' annual fee, which Curtis raised from $103,000 in 2008 to $176,000. Curtis said it had to charge more because it had to hire more staff to make up for losing volunteers.
A consultant studied the issue and said the district could run the service for less. Curtis disagreed.
The consultant recommended buying one new and one used ambulance, plus equipment, for an estimated startup cost of $243,000.
Curtis has four paid employees working for Edgerton. Demrow said the district plans to have three paid employees, at least to start.
Demrow said 20 to 22 non-paid EMTs who live in Edgerton have indicated they would work for a district-run service. Curtis has fewer non-paid EMTs because of an "issue" that some of them had with Curtis, Demrow said.
Demrow declined to discuss that issue, saying he didn't want to stir up ill feelings with Curtis.
Meanwhile, the district is paying Curtis $88,000 for the first half of 2009. Demrow said he is hoping for as smooth a transition as possible.