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Great.From the Ground Up.
January 20,2011
Barbara Kirkmeyer
Chair Weld County Board of County Commissioners
RE: IGA for ambulance services
Dear Commissioner Kirkmeyer:
In accordance with our recent conversation, I am following up with this letter to communicate the City
Council's objectives regarding ambulance service. 1 think it important to clearly note that there is no
concern that these objectives can not be met with the current operational structure. That being said, the
concern of the Council is that the objectives need to be clearly identified so that we can mutually assure the
objectives are being met.
I think it important to outline the context that created the development of the objectives.
During the 2011/2012 City of Greeley budget development, Greeley Fire Chief Duane McDonald was
tasked with cutting a substantial amount of money from the Fire budget in the event Propositions 60, 61 and
101 had passed. One of his proposed cuts was elimination of providing advanced life support from fire
personnel. After a lengthy discussion, City Council asked a number of questions and asked for a history of
this service and the development of advanced life support. During the subsequent review of the proposed
budget, history of ambulance services and advanced life support, it became apparent to Council that a
discussion needed to take place between our organizations. They have expressed a desire to develop a level
of service that best serves Greeley residents and to determine the best and most economical method to
provide this service including continuation with the Weld County Paramedic Services.
I recognize and appreciate that Weld County is writing off a considerable amount of the cost of this
important service and that changes in Federal and State laws which regulates and provides payment for
some of these services may exacerbate this challenge.
The City of Greeley, through the Union Colony Fire Rescue Authority (UCFRA), currently has an
intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Weld County to allow Weld County Paramedic Services to
operate and transport within the City of Greeley. This IGA was signed in 1996 and is essentially unchanged
from the original agreement signed by the City of Greeley and Weld County in 1976. With the sun setting
of UCFRA,the IGA should be amended to reflect the changes in operational structure. It is our hope that
the Council's objectives might be incorporated into this needed revision.
Mayor's Office • 1000 10th Street,Greeley,CO 80631 • (970) 350-9772 Fax(970) 350-9583
We promise to preserve and improve the quality of life for Greeley through timely, courteous and cost-effective service.
ecrnr•uxn,tt.tO 1 2'6-d1J//
2011-0309
In closing, the City is very pleased with the cooperation of Weld County in addressing needed upgrades of
the Regional Communication Center during the past year. We have every expectation that we will also be
able to collaboratively address the City Council objectives. I have asked that this item be added to our
regularly scheduled meeting next Thursday.
Sincerely,
Thomas E. Norton
Mayor
Cc: Greeley City Council
Weld County Board of County Commissioners
Roy H. Otto, Greeley City Manager
Monica Mika, Weld County Director of Administration
Duane McDonald, Greeley Fire Chief
Dave Bressler, Director Weld County Ambulance Service
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