Jeff Davis Parish police jurors have said no to an ordinance that would have limited the licenses for future ambulance services in the parish by allowing for one ambulance service to operate in the parish if the other service left.

During a meeting this week, police jurors voted 6-5 against the ordinance which supporters say would have provided a backup plan for continuous emergency services if one of the two current ambulance services discontinued operations in the parish.

“I’m not talking about eliminating one,” Police Jury Kori Myers said. “They’re both still going to be here tomorrow, six months from now, a year from now, but if one leaves, all this ordinance does is protect us and gives us a barrier.”

Under the proposal, the remaining provider would have had 60 days to submit a written plan on how they would fill the vacancy. No other permits would be accepted, unless the existing provider could fill the gap or failed to present a plan, Myers said. In that case, she said the parish would seek another service.

“We are not kicking any ambulance service out,” Myers said. “What we are simply doing is providing a backup plan, if any of these two providers that we currently have leave us. It gives us a guarantee that our parish will be covered and if they cannot handle covering the parish, then we shop it and ask for another service to come in, apply for a permit, we approve that permit and we continue to serve our clients.”

The intent of the ordinance is not to hurt any ambulance service or residents, Myers said.

“What we are ensuring is that this parish will be covered if one leaves and that’s our job,” she said.

Having two providers is unsustainable due to low call volumes, financial overhead and operational cost, according to Police Juror Butch Lafargue. Having a single provider would improve cost-effectiveness, response times and care quality, he said.

After researching the matter, Lafargue said he felt it was the “best thing” for the parish.

The number of ambulance calls in Calcasieu Parish are 95 a day, while Jeff Davis Parish averages about 14 calls a day which is split between two carriers operating in the parish, he said.

With the limited license, all the business would go to one provider, Lafargue said.

“A profitable ambulance provider can ensure that they have consistent funding for operations and upgrades to vehicles, medical equipment, facilities, etc.,” he said. “It’ll also help them to retain and hire additional employees.”

Without a substantial financial mode for ambulance services in the future, the parish risks severe cuts, reduced operation and possible closures, Lafargue said.

Police Juror Marcus Peterson expressed concern for the potential negative impact the measure could have on service quality, including slower response times and reduced care with a sole provider, especially in rural areas.

However, representatives from Acadian Ambulance Service and MedExpress Ambulance Service said they were fine with the ordinance change, noting that it would hold ambulance services more accountable and keep fly-by-night businesses from coming in and causing problems.

Police Jury President Steve Eastman cautioned police jurors to not rush into making a decision and to study matters further.

“I don’t want us to jump into something,” Eastman said. “We have had issues in the past with transfers out of the hospital and I know this doesn’t go over transfers, but I hope neither service leaves because I think this parish is being covered better than it ever has been, because we have multiple services in this parish.”

Those voting against the ordinance change were Police Jurors Donald Woods, Chad Woods, Marcus Peterson, Wayne Fruge, David Lejeune and Byron Buller. Those in favor were Kori Myers, Melvin Adams, Butch Lafargue, Owen Cormier and Bill Labouve. Police Juror Tim McKnight was not at the meeting.