Antioch Rescue Squad Declines Limited Contract Extension

ANTIOCH, Ill., May 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last night at the Village of Antioch Board Meeting, Village Trustees voted on a 12-month contract extension with ARS for EMS services. The 12-month extension would have aligned with ARS' 12-month contract with the First Fire Protection District. That vote failed 4-2. In a follow up motion, the Village Trustees passed a six month extension. The ARS President Todd Thommes respectfully declined the shorter extension. ARS' intentions were expressed to Village officials prior to last night's meeting and should not have come as a surprise.

"ARS has been operating for the last 12 months under the 'threat' of non-renewal every 90 days. No business can operate effectively under those conditions. A contract is meant to be mutually beneficial. Our volunteer members cannot work effectively under those circumstances. ARS simply needs to have a fair contract with a reasonable term in place so that we can focus on the job of providing EMS delivery instead of preparing to pack up every 90 days should the Village not renew yet again," Thommes said.

"Let there be absolutely no question in anybody's mind - ARS is still willing to provide service to the residents of the Village of Antioch as it has for the more than 70 years and it will continue to provide service in the Antioch Township under our current contract with the First Fire Protection District," ARS Chief Brian DeKind said.

"We have only asked to be treated fairly," Chief DeKind said. "We've offered to provide service until July 1 or until such a date as the Village is able to provide for EMS coverage in the Village and the Trustees decided on a June 1 deadline. The simple fact is regardless of any arbitrary contract dates or political jargon – this rescue squad will continue to provide this community with the best EMS service possible until we are told to exit."

For the past several months, ARS board members have been participating in the joint public safety committee with the best intentions. ARS has provided financial statements, collections details, response times and plans.

"Our Board has worked tirelessly towards its mission of continual improvement of ARS' operations and improving the service it provides to our community since we took office. If every 90 days we are forced to stand in front of the Village Board and hear about how horrible things were in the past, our attention becomes diverted. We feel that a 12-month agreement that runs parallel with the First Fire Protection District agreement would allow us to continue our momentum and our work at the public safety subcommittee meetings," Thommes said.

"It's a shame it has come to this when we are willing to continue to serve the entire Antioch community as we have for over 70 years with no burden on the taxpayers," said DeKind. "Our organization has been able to serve without impacting residents with a tax levy or collection for service. I don't think any alternative exists that will not cost the taxpayers of this community, and that's unfortunate".

For more information, visit antiochrescuesquad.org and follow them on Facebook and Twitter @AntiochRescue.

The Antioch Rescue Squad operates without placing a tax burden on the public.

SOURCE Antioch Rescue Squad