Air ambulance pulls out of California City
This story appeared in the Antelope
Valley Press on Tuesday, October 14, 2003.
By ALLISON GATLIN
Valley Press Staff Writer
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CALIFORNIA CITY - California City's air ambulance service will soon
see changes, with its current provider seeking to end its contract.
Med-Trans Corp. has provided the helicopter used for air ambulance
service in California City for approximately 20 months, but decided to
pull out about one month ago, City Manager Jack Stewart said.
The contract with the city for the helicopter is open-ended, but calls for a 90-day notice of cancellation, Stewart said. However, Med-Trans wanted to give the city only a 30-day notice of their intent to leave.
"They felt that they didn't have to give us anything," he said.
In ensuing discussions between the city and the company, Med-Trans offered the 30-day notice plus $30,000.
According to Stewart, the company has threatened to sue the city to get out of its contract, but no lawsuit has been filed.
The company is alleging financial hardship as the reason for pulling out, Stewart said.
"They just want to go where pastures are greener," he said.
Med-Trans spokesman Reid Vogel, reached at the corporation's Bismarck, N.D. headquarters, said the company has no comment at this time, pending the outcome of discussions with the city.
Med-Trans provided the helicopter, but the pilots and paramedics who operate it are city personnel.
Although the company wanted to leave by the end of September, the helicopter is still stationed in California City.
"They've definitely said they're going," Stewart said.
Without Med-Trans, California City is still served by Mercy Air, at
Mojave Airport. The City Council looked into acquiring a helicopter from
Bell Helicopter in a 12-year, $3.1 million lease but voted 4-1 against
it, citing financial uncertainties.
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