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Heber Springs citizens discuss changing ambulance service providers

Community members were able to ask questions about the proposals submitted by NorthStar and Life Flight.

HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. — A lot of uncertainty remains in Cleburne County as the city of Heber Springs is in the process of changing its contract with ambulance service providers. 

A meeting was held at Chastain Chapel Church Thursday night to connect the two ambulance provider companies who have submitted proposals with the public.

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People were able to ask questions about the proposals submitted by NorthStar and Life Flight.

The main concern is the coverage area. People are worried that if the current arrangement is changed, it will leave some areas without ambulance service. 

NorthStar is the current provider and has 17 ambulances. Life Flight also provides helicopter ambulance services to Cleburne County, but if Life Flight takes over the contract, the company would purchase four ground ambulances. 

However, the primary coverage area would be inside the city limits. People who don't live within the limits worry that response times outside of the city will become extremely long due to the decrease in number of ambulances. 

But, both companies say they've put a lot of thought into the proposals to make sure everyone has access to emergency services.

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"We intend to respond from day one, hour one, minute one into the county. And I'm not sure why there's that much misinformation out there that we would not do that, but we absolutely would. They have my word on it," said Shaine Keasler with Survival Flight.

Aside from providing information to the community, organizers say they also wanted this meeting to encourage people to contact City Council before they vote on what proposal to accept.

City Council is scheduled to vote on the issue on July 25. In the meantime, the council has approved an extension to the contract with North Star until November. 

The ambulance provider who is selected, would take over after that contract.

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