BAY MINETTE, Alabama — In a frank, but open discussion, a full-seated Bay Minette City Council wrangled over its role in “signing off” on a legal, but problematic bid process that authorizes and directs Mayor Bob Wills to take all actions necessary to participate in the Baldwin County 9-1-1 Emergency Communication District bid which includes...”awarding one exclusive” dispatch contract for ambulance services county-wide.

Haleyville, Alabama, stands as the first American town to use the 911 (Emergency Call System) in 1968. Since then, the system has evolved into a 13-member statewide 9-1-1 Board named by the governor, who oversees Emergency Communication Districts that fall under the umbrella of Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau specifically tied to the Federal Communications Commission in Washington D.C.

But it is the 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District Board “exclusive award, bid process” that the city of Bay Minette now tackles with what may be future limitations on private business as well as local controls. According to ECD Board history, the basic 911 phone system, first used in Haleyville, has since moved from local authority, into a bureaucratic network of state and federal governance. Cost for the (federal) Public Safety Answering Support system places a (set state) surcharge rate of $ 1.75 per month per user.

On Monday, the council reviewed and approved an ordinance that provides the city with continued “opportunity” to host two advanced life support ambulance units maintained 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week within city limits. Along with emergency dispatch units.

“From what I hear, from two different hospitals, they say there is going to be a longer response time,” said Council Kathy Dobbins of the contract.

Dobbins suggested that the 9-1-1 bid and award process would represent a monopoly in services and in the end, she could not support the resolution or ordinance.

“Why are we being singled out with this?” asked Dobbins in heated remarks. “Any city (of our size) should be able to put in another option (in rotational ambulance services or with a certificate of need).”

In further discussion, Mayor Bob Wills, councilmen John Biggs and Dan Leigh Corbett echoed similar hesitation.

“I see a serious problem with this and I question their ability to do it,” said Dobbins of the award. “This contract is just not right.”

In other words, if the city of Bay Minette “joined” the bid process, it would also lose any authority to direct, supervise, control operations, policies or procedures of E-911 to include bid specification as they relate to ambulance services. In short, a private ambulance service would no longer be included in a “rotational” 911 dispatch as it would be outside of “exclusive” bid-contract parameters.

Dobbins and Wills were both critical of the coercive nature of leveraging current 911 dispatch services in place for citizens in order to finalize the bid award agreement.

 “We’ve never been without our (own) ambulance service,” said Dobbins of the dispatch-response system. I believe the rotation (of 911 ambulance service) is the national standard. So why is all of Baldwin County signing an ‘exclusive contract’ here? Why is a city with a much older population, nursing homes and two hospitals, having a longer (average) response time when we know there are a lot more people in North Baldwin?”

According to Baldwin County 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District statistics, there are over 182,000 residents of the county, plus visitors, with ambulance/response services covering 1,596 square miles.

“This is encouraging a monopoly in services for the public and I have to ask why Bay Minette is being pushed into this decision.”

The issue lay wide open on the table Monday. But in the mayor’s words, “We would not want to cut off our nose to spite our face,” as he (for one) was reluctant to “vote down” the final bid-award process.

“I really do question whether the 9-1-1 (singular service) can actually do it,” Wills said. “We are out on a limb with this, but ‘not voting’ is not beneficial to the citizens and we are putting some citizens at risk if we don’t do it.”

Aside from other remarks, Attorney Scotty Lewis said that an alternative to the measure would be for the city to establish their own 9-1-1 emergency call dispatch system but this would be a costly and mostly difficult undertaking.

“If we could bid out our own (9-1-1 ECC Dispatch Service) response team we would need to hire, train and equip about five people,” Lewis said. “We actually looked at this option, but it’s very expensive to do.” At present, the city of Bay Minette provides on-site space and pays for basic utilities.

In the final minutes, the council voted to authorize and direct the mayor to take all actions necessary for the city to participate in the Baldwin County 9-1-1 Emergency Communication District bid for ambulance services – with only Dobbins voting against the measure.

In other business, the council:

• Approved Relay for Life Project Funds of $1,250 ($250 per council member).

• Approved a contribution of $1,500 in funds for the North Baldwin Animal Shelter.

• Approved support for Alabama Hunger Relief (bass tournament fundraiser) and agreed to waive facility use fees for March 24 event.

• Approved “fee-waiver” for North Baldwin Infirmary (Ride Yellow Event, June 17-18).

• Approved $12,000 (software purchase cost) for the Cemetery Association.

• Approved training request funds for fire department and police staff.