The Chicago Tribune has an article about the Tinley Park officials examining options for EMS coverage.

Tinley Park officials are exploring several options for ambulance service once the village’s contract with Trace Ambulance expires April 30. Under the current contract, Tinley Park pays approximately $600,000 a year to Trace Ambulance to staff four ambulances in town during most of the day, according to Emergency Management Agency Director Pat Carr. The village receives more than 5,000 emergency calls for service a year, Carr said.

In addition to the $600,000 paid by the village, Trace handles billing of patients for ambulance service, Carr said. Tinley Park does not collect any of that revenue, Carr said.

Village officials plan to issue a request for proposal for ambulance services in the near future, possibly at the April 1 Tinley Park Village Board meeting, Carr said.

Village officials are also considering whether to add a fifth ambulance to the contract between 6 a.m. and midnight, Tilton said. Having four ambulances in town hasn’t caused any issues in the past, he said, but the village would like to know what having a fifth ambulance would cost, especially as Tinley’s demographics change and the population ages.

Mayor Ed Zabrocki said the village’s dealings with Trace have been positive in the past but said the village is considering all options.

In its call for proposals, the village is planning to set minimum standards to ensure that only qualified bidders are applicants, including having provided a minimum of 18 months of continuous service within the last three years to another town with a population of at least 35,000, Carr said.

Trace Ambulance, [is] based in Tinley Park. Chris Vandenberg, president of Trace Ambulance, said the company has been servicing Tinley Park off and on since the 1960s and the company plans to make a bid.

thanks Dan

Tags: Chris Vandenberg, Emergency Management Agency Director Pat Carr, president of Trace Ambulance, Tinley Park reviews options for EMS, Trace Ambulance