The Clinton Fire Department's bid to obtain ambulance service for the county took a positive step forward Monday evening.

Two options were discussed on how to proceed forward for the Fire Department. According to City Attorney, Stephen Myers, the city could work with DeWitt County in an intergovernmental agreement, which would negate the Fire Department from moving forward in submitting a proposal. Myers felt as though entering into an intergovernmental agreement would be a better way to proceed, rather than have the Fire Department submit a proposal to the DeWitt County Ambulance Advisory Committee.

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Clinton Fire Chief Shawn Milton felt it would be better to pursue submitting a proposal through the Committee's RFP. He feels the County has done a lot of work to enter into a governmental agreement and he does not want to negate that work.

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Clinton Mayor Carolyn Peters expressed a great deal of concern. She says the concern she is getting in feedback from those in the community she has spoken to is they fear the tax money would return to the hospital, that is not what the community wants. She also fears entering into an intergovernmental agreement could leave the city fending for themselves in providing Clinton residents with ambulance services, but without funding.

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The Council elected to move forward in allowing Chief Milton to put together a proposal, however, the City Attorney and City Council will review what Chief Milton puts together.

The Fire Department is not yet in the clear, the Council elected to meet Monday, August 13 at 1 pm to review the Fire Department's proposal. Why is that significant?

The deadline for proposals to the DCAAC is Monday August 13 at 2 pm. Leaving very little time for any changes that may be necessary to the document that need to be made.