Pleasant Twp. trustees OK EMS contracts

Van Wert independent/submitted information

Faced with the impending loss of emergency medical service coverage, the Pleasant Township Board of Trustees Wednesday approved new EMS contracts with Ohio City and Convoy volunteer fire departments.

The two departments currently provide fire coverage for the township, but EMS services had been provided by Brickner Ambulance Service Inc.

According to Township Fiscal Officer Linda Hartman, the trustees received a letter dated June 1 notifying the township that Brickner Ambulance Service was ending its EMS operations in the township this coming Friday.

The letter, from attorney Stephen Keister, stated: “After many years of service to this area, we regret to inform you that Brickner Ambulance Service Inc. will cease all operations completely on June 10, 2016.”

Pleasant Township residents will continue to use the county 9-1-1 service and the appropriate department will be dispatched.

According to co-owner Charles Brickner, Brickner Ambulance Service is being purchased by Greenville-based Spirit Medical Transport and will concentrate on medical transfers between medical facilities, including nursing homes, rather than providing EMS services.

Brickner said the reason for the sale is to allow him and his brother, Jim, to concentrate on their funeral home operations. He noted, though, that he and his brother would likely be involved with the ambulance service in some capacity for at least the near future.