Lewis County EMS is moving closer to providing service after members of the Ambulance Service Board approved the hiring of a director and received a license to operate from the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS).
Judge Executive George Sparks said he had been in close contact with KBEMS Executive Director Eddie Slone for several months after Portsmouth Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. (PEASI) had expressed their intention to discontinue service in the county.
“I’m happy to say that KBEMS granted a license to Lewis County Fiscal Court effective today,” Sparks said.
Sparks said he received notice at PEASI would be ceasing service in the county at midnight on Wednesday, April 3, and efforts were stepped-up to expedite receiving a license to operate. An application had been filed in January.
Sparks said negotiations with Portsmouth Ambulance to continue to provide service until Lewis County EMS is fully operational were unsuccessful.
“We were financially unable to meet the subsidy Portsmouth Ambulance was asking to remain as a provider in the county,” Sparks said.
He said Portsmouth Ambulance forfeited their license to operate in Lewis County effective at midnight on Wednesday.
Sparks said the Ambulance Service District Board reported they had approved a candidate for EMS director and that director will be interviewing and hiring EMTs and paramedics in the coming weeks.
“We are inviting interested candidates to send resumes as soon as possible,” Sparks said.
“We are very excited for Lewis County to be moving closer to having its own ambulance service provider,” Sparks added.
He credits board members for their efforts moving the effort forward quickly and efficiently.
“They have done a tremendous amount of work in a short time,” Sparks said.
Ambulance Service District Board Chairman Danny Palmer said contributions of ambulance vehicles and equipment from other counties and EMS boards have helped to put the matter on a fast track.
“It would not have been possible without the efforts of many people,” Palmer said. “The response has been amazing.”
Lewis County Fiscal Court took a step in the transition of emergency medical transport services to Lewis County EMS during the February meeting by voting to cancel the contract with Portsmouth Ambulance.
“Danny Palmer and the ambulance board have been working really hard to get to where we are able to start the ambulance service here in Lewis County,” Sparks told magistrates during the meeting.
Sparks credited County Attorney Benjamin Harrison for his work on the application to obtain a license.
“He worked night and day for about a week on the full certificate of need application and did an outstanding job on it. We got it submitted with many letters of support from several different agencies in the county, and businesses.”
Sparks said he and other local officials have been in contact with ambulance services in all surrounding counties “who have all said, ‘we will step up. We will help you if you get in a bind and take runs,’” Sparks said. “And they have. They have come into our county many times (for mutual aid).”
Emergency medical 911 calls for ambulance transportation are being handled by ambulance services in surrounding counties based on availability and geographic location.
Sparks said Lewis County first responders are also continuing to provide service in assisting with the initial response to urgent medical calls.
“I am more than proud of our own first-responders for their selfless efforts in providing service to our citizens,” Sparks said.
“The (Lewis County) ambulance board has two ambulances that have been generously donated by other entities . . . and they have purchased another ambulance,” Sparks said.
He added that two other ambulances have been donated and the process is underway to have those transferred to Lewis County EMS as soon as possible.
Portsmouth Ambulance officials notified the county on February 24, 2022, of the intent to close their Lewis County hub within 30 days because they were losing money.
A contract was negotiated as a short-term solution with the initial one-year term calling for Lewis County to subsidize PEASI $16,000 per month for them to continue to provide service in the county.
Funding for the first one-year contract was allocated from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money received by the county. Craig Stanfield was serving as judge executive at that time.
Last year magistrates approved the creation of an ambulance tax and a five-member board was named to oversee the creation and operation of the local EMS service.
The property tax was established at 10 cents per $100 valuation and appeared for the first time on Lewis County property tax bills mailed in October with the first proceeds realized by the taxing entity in December. The tax has been applied to motor vehicles and watercraft since January 1.
The contract for service with Portsmouth Ambulance was renewed for one year in April 2023 at a negotiated $19,000 per month. The City of Vanceburg agreed to assist the county and had been contributing $3,000 per month toward the cost.
Those wishing to apply for EMS and paramedic positions may drop off resumes in person at the Judge Executive’s Office in the Lewis County Courthouse or email them to LewisCountyEMS@lewiscountyky.gov.
For additional information, please call Danny Palmer at 606-748-0773.
