Ambulance fees are on the rise in the city of Crawfordsville.
On Wednesday, the Crawfordsville Board of Public Works & Safety approved a request from the Crawfordsville Fire/EMS Department to adjust the EMS rates following a recent audit.
The basic rate will increase from $615 to $715; Advanced Life Support I fees will increase from $740 to $840; and the Advanced Life Support II fees would increase from $900 to $1,550. Transportation fees will go from $90 to $190 and the loaded mileage fee will increase from $14 to $15 per mile.
Deputy Fire Chief Paul Miller said the audit revealed the need to increase the rates.
“We’re still in the lower two-thirds of the state according to our billing company,” Miller told the board.
Overall rising costs, including an increase in the cost of medications, is prompting the change.
Mayor Todd Barton added that being in the lower tier is also causing some issues with commercial insurance companies.
In other fire department business, the board approved the purchase of an ambulance from MacQueen North America in the amount of $320,241.
In other business, the board:
• Approved a request from Erin Blaydes to use one parking space on Pike Street at Pike Place for a ribbon cutting on her mobile business, Tipsy Traveler, at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 2.
• Approved a request by Randy Caldwell to close Pike Street at Pike Place from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 27 for a Cars & Coffee event.
• Approved a request from Crystle Houser to place a dumpster on Franklin Street at 516 S. Walnut St. for seven to 10 days, effective immediately.
• Approved a change order for the Purple Heart Parkway extension project related to material costs. The city will receive a $83,802 credit.
• Approved an agreement between the city and TRANE of Indianapolis for HVAC maintenance at the Ivy Tech/Crawfordsville Career Academy site. Rates for the three-year contract rates are $6,089, $6,333 and $6,576.
• Opened bids for the Shelley Drain Project. Companies to submit bids and amounts are: Morphey of Indianapolis, $479,000; Conexco of Indianapolis, $398,500; Plant Brothers of Rosedale, $353,955; and David Price Excavating of Crawfordsville, $292,276. The bids were tabled for review.
• Approved a request from Barry Lewis, Code Enforcement Officer, to have city crews mow the property at 309 N. Washington St. This is the site of the former Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.
• Learned K9 Drako will retire and the board gave approval to allow the dog to remain with his handler, Patrolman Russ Keller.
