County Insurance Carrier to Pay Altamont Ambulance $125,000 Related to Settlement

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Published on March 31 2017 11:10 am
Last Updated on March 31 2017 11:10 am
Written by Greg Sapp

The settlement agreement between the Effngham County Board and Altamont Ambulance approved by the Board earlier this week includes a provision that the County's insurer will pay the ambulance service $125,000.

The agreement was made available to the media by Effingham County Clerk Kerry Hirtzel as the documents are a matter of public record.

The $125,000 will be paid by Counties of Illinois Risk Management Agency (CIRMA). The agreement said the payment is to cover Altamont Ambulance's expenses during the transition for ambulance service in the county to Abbott Ambulance. The Board announced at Wednesday's meeting that Altamont Ambulance has agreed to transfer their exclusive contract to provide ambulance service in the county to Abbott. The transfer is expected to take 60-90 days. The settlement agreement also states the payment is to ensure Altamont Ambulance has sufficient funds to operate during the transition.

The settlement agreement also states that neither side admits to allegations made by the other party, and that both parties maintain their innocence of any wrongdoing.

The new ambulance ordinance adopted Wednesday states the Board "believes it is necessary and appropriate to adopt an ordinance (consistent with State statute) to contract with a corporation and allow said corporation the exclusive right to provide ambulance services with the County and, to the extent allowed by law, limit the number of ambulance services authorized to provide services within the County."