City Council approves ambulance transition

The Edmond City Council Monday approved an ordinance amendment that transitions to American Medical Response (AMR) as the provider for emergency ground transportation service within the city limits of Edmond starting Tuesday.

AMR replaces Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) as the emergency medical ground transport service in Edmond.

While the provider changes, membership in the ground ambulance transportation program is still available to residents for a $3 monthly charge on their City of Edmond utility bill. If residents are currently enrolled, no action is required to remain at their current status, said City Manager Scot Rigby.

The $660,000 agreement with AMR is an annual contract that will be reviewed each year.

“I want to say we are especially thankful for EMSA for working with us to extend the emergency ambulance service to residents for many years and through this transition are happy and excited to begin service of AMR,” Rigby said. “The biggest change for Edmond residents, businesses and visitors is a MR will have operations dedicated in Edmond at the old Fire Station No. 2 location at 1315 South Broadway.”
 Rigby said AMR will have up to five ambulances stationed in Edmond at peak times, which will ensure more timely service to residents and visitors as the change occurs.

For more information about the switch, enrollment or service coverage areas, check the FAQ page at www.edmondok.gov/686/FAQ.

Rigby also updated the Council on Edmond’s latest sales and use tax report.

“We just received our sales use tax report from the Oklahoma Tax Commission to list. This latest report covers sales from November of 2023, which was reported to the OTC in December and collected by the city this month,” he said. “Our year-to-date sales tax collection is up 0.45 percent over this time last year, even though our January 2024 numbers are down 0.29 percent compared to 2023. Our year-to-date use tax collections are up 3.16 percent for January, 2024. Collections came in at 7.5 percent higher than this time last year.”

Rigby said the OTC report shows the City’s year-to-date combined sales and use tax collections are $62.7 million, which is up over this time last year by 0.88 percent.

“All this to say we projected a 2 percent sales tax and a 5 percent use tax for this fiscal year, so we seem at this point a little bit under our targets," he said. "However, the most critical month of reporting will be next month's December report. Holiday sales and use tax figures will give us a much clearer picture of where the city will end the fiscal year based on these trends, and as a sales tax-dependent city, we will continue to be cautious with our spending for the rest of this fiscal year."