Ambulance service seeks to become sole provider in Gadsden

With their competitor now out of business, Rural Metro Ambulance made a pitch to the Gadsden City Council's Public Safety Committee Monday  to become the sole ambulance provider for the city.

Gadsden Etowah EMS on Feb. 26 surrendered its medical transport license back to the Alabama Department of Public Health, a day after filing for bankruptcy.

Councilman Ben Reed said he appreciates Rural Metro's efforts to ensure continued coverage and said it undoubtedly would step up again should another ambulance provider go under. However, he said the City Council's long-standing policy has been to have two services to ensure the city is covered should that happen.  Fire Chief Stephen Carroll said using two ambulance services has brought the response time down to less than 10 minutes for 90 percent of the calls in the city within the last yea