Somewhat overshadowed by the ongoing debate over trash pickup, a large debate ensued during Monday’s City Council meeting over ambulance service.

Mayor Larry Haag initiated the discussion on whether the city’s fire department should go on ambulance runs in the city. Haag said the discussion was needed due to complaints from residents.

“In the coffee shops, in the streets, on my telephone and on e-mail, once again there’s comment and concern about the fire department assisting medical runs,” Haag said.

Haag said he “was not going to bad mouth anybody,” and said the fire department is usually the first on the scene, followed by ambulances by Southwest Medical EMS.

Several firefighters and paramedics were in the audience Monday.

After Haag spoke, Fire Chief Dave Rhoads addressed the council on the policy. Rhoads said after 10 years using the ladder truck, five of which has been on medical runs, the total mileage is 26,000 miles.

“It’s the most efficient piece of equipment that we’ve got,” Rhoads said.

Even though the mileage is low, Rhoads was asked to find a different policy. The department, in the 2009 budget, is going to acquire a pickup truck that could be used for medical runs among other duties. The problem, Rhoads said, was the truck could be used only if there was a full staff at the station.

“It has to be fully staffed and it will be equipped as the ladder truck would,” Rhoads said.

The policy of using the fire department to go on medical runs was instituted five years ago by then-Mayor David Abel. Audience member Roger Cox asked if the ambulance service was inadequate to handle medical situations, but agreed the fire department should be called if they are saving lives.

“What about the ambulance?” Cox said. “What’s the problem?”

Southwest Medical is contracted by Daviess County to provide ambulance service. It is not in contract with the city, but serves the city. Haag said statistics show that the fire department is usually first on the scene a minute or two before Southwest arrives.

“We’re there on the scene first but it depends on the situation and time of day,” Rhoads said. “Usually, we arrive at the same time as Southwest does.”

Firefighter Rick Mattingly said the department’s main function on medical runs is to help Southwest in the event the ambulance service could be elsewhere. Mattingly mentioned an example of five Southwest ambulances being out at a time.

“We’re helping fill in a gap when needed,” Mattingly said. “We can do things that helps people get to the hospital quicker.”

Mattingly said there are false alarms, but they aren’t known until they get to a scene.

“I’ll make the same amount of money whether I sit here at the fire station or go on ambulance runs,” Mattingly said. “So the fuel is the only thing we are really out.”

No decision was made by the council on runs. Councilman Tom Baumert asked if the ambulance service could pay the city for its help. Baumert relayed a recent situation he saw when a woman was having a suspected heart attack.

“The ambulance got there first, two ladies, they started in with their medical stuff and we got out of the way,” Baumert said. “Suddenly, fire trucks start rolling in. They get the stretcher, they load her on the stretcher, they take her out and load in the ambulance.

“I thought the ambulance service didn’t do anything. We do a great service and we ought to be reimbursed some money if we do it.”

Haag said after Baumert’s comments he will look into recouping costs. Councilman Joe Fleck, who said the policy was thrust upon the council by Abel, said the majority of people want the service. Fleck’s comments were met with applause.