Havre mayor eyes outsourcing EMT services

The city of Havre is considering a plan to outsource its ambulance services to Northern Montana Hospital.

The mayor said the plan would provide quality service to the public while saving the city a considerable sum of money.

The city’s fire department, which now provides emergency medical technician service, would remain full-time, he said, but fewer people would be needed on staff, according to Mayor Tim Solomon.

Solomon brought up the matter while answering questions Tuesday night from members of the Havre Study Commission, who interviewed him about his ideas on changes in the city’s form of government.

In order to save money, he said, the city could work out an arrangement under which the hospital could provide emergency services for a fee to be paid by the city.

The change would probably require the city to lose its Class 1 city status, he said. Class 1 cities are required to have full-time fire departments and provide ambulance service.

City Council member Andrew Brekke, an ad hoc member of the panel, said Havre is the smallest Class 1 city, and there is a substantial gap between Havre and the largest Class 2 city.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Havre’s population at about 9,600.

Solomon said he was reluctant to bring up the proposed change at the commission meeting because people would see it as a volley in the city’s ongoing dispute with the International Association of Fire Fighters.

The city and the union are at odds over personnel issues and are awaiting an arbitrator’s report a protracted contract dispute.

But, the mayor said, the city is at its tax limit and will have to make some serious decisions in coming years.

He said the city has to look at the basic services it is required to provide. Some nonmandated services will have to be reduced in scope, he said.

He said Miles City has a system with its local hospital that is similar to what he is suggesting for Havre.

He said EMTs are already on the Northern Montana Hospital staff. They could be used for some emergency calls.

“We need to get the hospital involved,” Solomon said.

The mayor also suggested that City Court in City Hall and Hill County Justice Court, housed in the the Hill County Courthouse, work out an agreement in which both judges would work out of the same office, perhaps a shared staff.

He said City Judge Virginia Seigel and Justice of the Peace Audrey Barger say they need additional staff. Having a joint staff might help them both, he said.

Solomon said he has been studying both proposals, but gave no indication when plans would be ready for City Council to consider.