Muskego Ambulance Agreement Will Have to Wait

The 2012 ambulance agreement between the and the City of Muskego hit a snag as the 12 percent increase for overall services was not sufficiently explained for some Alderment.

Kert Harenda raised the question of what expenses the department was incurring, as documentation was missing from requests made at the committee level.

"I'm not saying they aren't justified, but I don't see anything that shows what increases they have seen," Harenda argued.

Tracy Snead, the alderman who chairs the Public Safety Committee (PSC), said there was extensive discussion as early as August of 2011, and the department mentioned fuel costs among others had risen and that they were currently operating in the red.

While Harenda pressed to have something in writing, Alderman Noah Fiedler cited gas prices from 2006, which was the year that the last agreement was forged, was $2.69/gallon.

"If we agree that average prices are now at least $3 per gallon, that alone is at least a 12 percent increase," he said.

Snead offered to defer the matter in order for the PSC to "get it right" at their next meeting, with frustration with Harenda apparent.

Concern over entering 2012 without a signed agreement yielded to the fact that previous discussions over contracts have meant the department has served the city for brief periods of time without one.

The deferral did not prevent the initial reading of an ordinance for ambulance fees, which will be re-read at the council's Jan. 10 meeting. The updated fees are as follows, and will take effect after the second reading:

• Basic life support, resident: $435 (up from $388)
• Basic life support, nonresident: $577 ($515)
• Advanced life support, resident: $463-$519
• Advanced life support, nonresident: $605-$661