Harrisburg officials are reviewing the city-run BLS ambulance service after questions about operating costs, revenue and responses outside city limits

By Paul Wilcoxen
The Southern Illinoisan

HARRISBURG, Ill. — Harrisburg officials are reviewing the city’s ambulance service after Commissioner Jonathan Brown expressed concerns about its cost and how far outside the city it should respond.

Brown said records show the ambulance service has brought in about $164,000 since April 2023, while additional staffing costs about $170,000 to $180,000 a year in salaries.

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Brown said he does not want to eliminate the service or cut a firefighter position.

“I’m not saying get rid of the ambulance service,” Brown said. “All I’m saying is, when that decision was made, that has cost the city a lot of money.”

Mayor John McPeek said then-Fire Chief John Gunning told the council the ambulance could potentially generate up to $900,000 a year. McPeek said the city has not budgeted based on that figure.

“I was told that. The council was told that. And I now know that figure was not realistic,” McPeek said.

Officials are also reviewing where the ambulance should respond.

Brown said he found a mutual aid agreement signed in January by the former fire chief allowing the city’s EMS operation to respond outside Harrisburg . Brown said he was unaware of the agreement and believes it should have gone before the council.

McPeek said officials recently learned of an agreement with Gallatin County but had not located the document as of Wednesday.

Brown said his concern is that Harrisburg taxpayers support the ambulance, but it could be outside the city when a resident needs it.

The Harrisburg Fire Union Local 2254 has also responded to questions about what firefighters can do on medical calls. Harrisburg operates a basic life support ambulance staffed by EMTs rather than an advanced life support ambulance staffed by paramedics.

The union said firefighters can administer several medications under medical protocols and provide CPR, use automated external defibrillators, manage airways, control bleeding and treat trauma.

“Being a BLS service does not mean our EMTs are incapable of responding to or treating critically ill or injured patients,” the union said.

McPeek said he visited the fire station last week to learn more about the ambulance and firefighters’ capabilities.

“I’m glad I went because they opened my eyes on a lot of things,” McPeek said.

McPeek said the city should continue reviewing the service’s finances while keeping the ambulance available.

“Having that ambulance service is very important, and I understand that, and we’ll do what we can to keep it and to service our community,” McPeek said.

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