Del City approves contract for EMS service

By Anthony Thomas
Midwest City Beacon

After 10 months of searching and negotiating with multiple ambulance providers, Del City has finally signed a one-year contract with Pafford EMS.

Under the agreement, Pafford will provide EMS service with 2 ½ ambulances dedicated to Del City. Two ambulances will serve Del City 24/7, and a third will be staffed 12 hours per day during peak hours. Del City will pay $30,000 per month for the service.

That cost will be passed on to residents in the form of a $3.45 ambulance surcharge on monthly utility bills. The new fee will be charged to every single-family residence, multifamily residential unit, nursing home and assisted living center bed, and business.

The new ambulance surcharge will begin Dec. 1.

“We had to choose between a company that said they hoped they would have enough staff to handle our emergency provider needs. The second choice was more costly, but they have up to six staff on stand-by. We could not get that with any other EMS service,” said Del City Mayor Floyd Eason.

The contract runs from Dec. 1 through Nov. 30, 2022. As the deadline approaches, the two parties can reinstate the contract or part ways. The city has indicated that they are very satisfied with the work Pafford has done in recent months and believes the two will have a long-term partnership.

“I am very satisfied. I don’t like having to pay the subscription but that’s the only downside. If you asked me what’s more important, paying $3.45 a month or having poor EMS service, there’s no contest. We’re talking about the lives and well-being of Del City citizens and we’re going to put that first,” said Eason.

Pafford has provided EMS service to Del City on a temporary basis since February. The city previously had an agreement with Midwest Medical until response times began to lag.

The city council in September agreed to sign a one-year contract with Pafford.