South Salt Lake may operate own ambulances

SOUTH SALT LAKE — Officials are considering a "friendly takeover" of the Gold Cross ambulance service — at least for 911 calls.

The move would add emergency ambulance services to the city fire department, so ambulances bearing South Salt Lake insignia and personnel would always be the first on scene. However, Gold Cross would continue to work in the city for nonemergency calls such as hospital transfers.

The change would follow in the footsteps of many other cities in the valley. It has been touted as a way to provide faster service and continuity of care.

Surprisingly, the proposal has met little resistance from Gold Cross even though South Salt Lake is the only city in the valley that contracts for emergency service from the ambulance company.

"We're in cooperation with South Salt Lake right now in order for them to provide an informed decision," Gold Cross spokesman Chris DeLaMare said. "We are working hand in hand with the city."

Despite the lack of resistance by the ambulance company, an initial price tag of $810,000 from the city's capital and general funds is giving some council members pause.

"The economy is too tight right now to pull any out of general fund," Councilman Shane Siwik said.

The seasoned councilman also feels the city shouldn't try to fix a problem that doesn't exist. No one from the public has complained about slow service or a lack of care, he said.

In contrast, Councilman John Weaver has said that having both paramedics and firefighters responding to emergency scenes will mean that all personnel are trained in both jobs. Self-providing will be a way to increase functional capacity without paying for new employees, he said.

A city-funded feasibility study on ambulances was published in early October. Its purpose was to verify figures provided to the council by the fire department, Siwik said.

The study found that once the new system is up and running, it will cost the city about $1.1 million but will bring in about $1.2 million, leaving the city in the black about $100,000. However, that could take three or four years.

The study also noted that self-providing would increase available ambulances to two, but would maintain the level of available paramedics.

The City Council has already agreed to some parts of the friendly takeover but the point of no return will be after the city has acquired equipment, city attorney Dave Carlson said.

The council's Wednesday vote concerns changing the city code to allow for self-providing of ambulance services.

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