Rescue squad’s decision catches NK officials off guard

An ongoing squabble between New Kent officials and Providence Forge Volunteer Rescue Squad over the squad’s permit to operate in the county reached new heights last week. Squad members took out a paid advertisement in another publication to announce the organization was immediately ending emergency medical service in New Kent and turning its attention to Charles City County (The same ad appears today on page 4).

In the ad, squad officials said their action resulted from unwillingness on the part of New Kent officials to work with them in ironing out details for renewing the squad’s operational permit. The move caught county officials totally by surprise, and led to the county issuing a brief, one-paragraph statement to the media on Monday that places blame for the communications breakdown on the squad.

But both the ad and the county’s statement appear to leave room for future negotiations, thus the outcome may not be set in stone. Squad officials in their ad said they “have decided not to seek renewal of the permit at this time” and they “remain open to working in New Kent in the future.” Phone messages left for the squad’s information officer, Annette Roberts, seeking comment had not been returned as of press time.

“I think the door is wide open,” acting county administrator Rodney Hathaway said on Monday. “We’re open to working with them if they choose to. We can’t make them because they’re an independent organization.”

Last March 31, then New Kent fire chief Tommy Hicks revoked the squad’s permit to operate in New Kent, citing the recent resignation of the squad’s operational medical director and a long list of unmet requirements necessary for permit renewal under county law. Hicks, who is no longer employed by the county, said at the time that the squad had been out of compliance since July 2011.

In the months since Hicks took action, a new medical director has come on board and the squad has been issued a temporary operating permit, but that permit expired on Sept. 30. Hathaway, meanwhile, declined to comment on specifics in connection with other requirements the squad must meet before a regular permit is issued. Permits must be renewed on an annual basis.

The squad’s ad claims that “intense negotiations” have taken place over several months with county officials. The ad also said the squad “has made every attempt to negotiate with New Kent County government” and has “complied with all reasonable requests” made by county officials. Squad officials also accused county officials of repeatedly postponing discussions about the matter. Hathaway, however, painted a different picture.

“There’s not really been too much of a negotiation. There are things they wanted to see drafted differently in our ordinance,” he said. “I’ve met with them a couple of times and other staff met with them, too, but I’m not sure if there’s been negotiations.

“In early September, I received a letter from them asking if the permit can be renewed and what they have to do to renew it,” he said. “My response was to sit down and talk about it and work out a game plan, but I got no response until I saw the ad.”

In the statement issued by Hathaway’s office, the county is pledging to continue serving New Kent residents through its four fire/rescue stations and an agreement with Black Creek station in Hanover County. There will be no drop-off in service, county officials say.

“I think the important thing is that even due to [the squad’s] actions, emergency response in New Kent will not decline,” Hathaway said. “Residents will continue to receive high quality, consistent care.”

Hathaway noted that the number of emergency calls in New Kent to which the Providence Forge squad has responded has been on the decline.

“I’m not sure how many they’ve responded to this year, but it’s nowhere near the amount we’d like to see them mark up,” he added.

Data released Tuesday by the New Kent Sheriff’s Office’s communications department, which is responsible for dispatching emergency calls, places the number for the year thus far at 83. Last year, based on data supplied in April by New Kent Fire/Rescue, the squad responded to 46.

Hathaway also commented on complaints over lack of county funding lodged by the squad in its ad. He said that unlike past years, the county did not budget money for the squad in it current year budget, but he added that money from the county’s cost recovery program that bills a patient’s insurance company for emergency service has been sent to the squad. He said he is unsure of the amount.

Legally, Hathaway said, the squad can continue to operate out of its Providence Forge station to serve Charles City. An issue, he added, has been raised over prohibiting squad vehicles from utilizing emergency lights and sirens while driving the short distance into Charles City.

“That is not well-defined in our ordinance,” he said. “There’s negotiation going on between our attorney and theirs to work that out.”
Officials in Charles City, meanwhile, appear to be embracing the squad’s decision with open arms.

Charles City Board of Supervisors District 2 representative Bill Coada said that while he has limited knowledge of the dealings between New Kent supervisors and squad officials, he believes Charles City would benefit from the squad’s action, especially if the squad elected to move to the county.

“Providence Forge Rescue Squad provides services needed for the county, and Charles City County can provide Providence Forge Rescue Squad with what they need,” he said, referring to a possibility of expanding the county’s existing stations.

“We’ve been pushing for 24-hour EMS services, and the rescue squad will greatly benefit us in that goal,” he added.

“[Charles City fire] Chief Archer Jones Jr. and [PFVRS officer] John Roberts have stepped up in helping us achieve 24-hour EMS,” he said. “Now it’s time for Charles City to step up and help accomplish the goal of providing around the clock emergency services for our citizens.”