Pasquotank extends EMS contract with Camden for another year

Pasquotank County will provide emergency medical services to Camden County for at least another year, the Pasquotank commissioners agreed on Monday.

Commissioners unanimously approved a one-year extension to the county’s current emergency medical services contract with Camden. The contract is set to expire June 30. The extension will cover the fiscal year 2024-25 and cost Camden $710,265, which is a 9.5% increase from the current annual cost of $648,645.

Pasquotank Manager Sparty Hammett said that the 9.5% increase includes the annual 3.5% increase already built into the existing contract, and accounts for rising costs due to inflation since the life of the current contract.

Camden has contracted with Pasquotank for EMS and ambulatory services for several years. In recent years, Camden officials have seen a growing need for the county’s own EMS system to serve its residents. Last year, Camden officials agreed to hire an EMS director who would help start the new standalone system, and in December, Camden commissioners agreed to spend nearly $857,000 for three ambulances.

However, Camden’s efforts to hire a director have been unsuccessful, thus prompting the request for the contract extension.

“We have experienced delays in finding a director who would be tasked with establishing and operating the new EMS,” Camden Manager Erin Burke said in March. “Our first round of interviews produced two potential candidates. An offer was extended and they declined the position.”

Burke said the county is renewing its search for a director, who she hopes to have on board by this summer. After a director is hired, it could be just a under a year before Camden’s EMS system is up and running.

“Once the director is in place it will take at least six to nine months before we will be operational,” she said.

Burke said she is hopeful that Camden’s first EMS director will be recruited from the next round of candidate interviews.

“I am optimistic that the right individual to start this agency is in our next round of candidates and that Camden County will be a great opportunity for that individual to build a modern agency and set the tone for emergency medical services going into our future,” she said.

Camden has allocated nearly $200,000 in its current fiscal budget for the director’s salary and to purchase basic office supplies, Burke said. Additional costs toward the new EMS system will be appropriated in next year’s budget that takes effect on July 1.

“Funding will be appropriated next year with the anticipation of having to make some amendments as we move forward with full staffing, supplies purchases, and other associated expenses,” the manager said.

Camden was able to use a state grant to purchase its three ambulances.

“We were very lucky this year to receive a grant to secure new ambulances with the assistance of (state) Rep. Bill Ward (R-Pasquotank),” Burke said. “We have not begun the process of building up staffing at this time. That will be the responsibility of the new director.”