The City of Bonham is currently contracted to provide those services. Under current contract, this fiscal year the County will pay Bonham $808,617.98. The contract will end in September of this year.

As required by law, The County went out for request for proposals (“RFP”). The RFPs were received from three qualified entities willing to provide emergency medical services. Those entities included the City of Bonham, City Ambulance Service, and Allegiance. Obviously, the County would have preferred to have awarded the contract to the City of Bonham.

The Proposals were fairly evaluated. The City of Bonham offered to provide the requested services next year for $1.8 million. City Ambulance Service offered to provide service next year for $1,794,620.58. Allegiance is agreeing to provide service for three years for $780,000 a year.

Allegiance will be responsible for the management and operation of the service. They will cover the cost of operation. They will be, among other things, providing the County with three full-time ambulances each staffed with six EMS employees. They will be providing emergency medical service beginning October 1, 2024.

An ambulance will probably be located in Honey Grove, and Leonard. A location has yet to be selected in western Fannin County. The service will be available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

It was a hard call, but I believe it’s what is best for the majority of our citizens. As a County we do not have a million dollars to spare.