By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Four members of the Atmore City Council approved unanimously during the council’s Monday, September 13, meeting a lease agreement with the city’s new emergency medical services provider. (Mayor Pro Tem Shawn Lassiter was out of town on business.)
The five-year lease — of the former fire station on Pensacola Avenue — calls for Lifeguard Ambulance / Medstar to pay the city $2,675 per month, which includes water, sewer, gas, electricity, HVAC, rubbish pickup, cable television, internet and plumbing.
Mayor Jim Staff and Police Chief Chuck Brooks each gave Medstar a five-star review on the company’s performance since it took over ground ambulance service on September 1.
“Their ambulance service has been second to none,” the mayor said after the meeting.
Brooks agreed.
“I think they’ve done an outstanding job; they’re very easy to work with,” the police chief said. “So far, we’ve been very pleased with them.”
The ambulance service reportedly has the option to renew the lease for a period of three additional two-year periods, with a 3 percent increase in the monthly lease payment for each two-year renewal period.
The agreement also calls for the city to pay for any necessary capital improvements on the building and premises and other capital improvements necessary to keep the premises in good condition.
In other business Monday, the council:
*Accepted a bid of $436,000 from Atmore-based Triptek Construction for building the 38-space Trammell Street parking lot.
*Approved use of the Farmers Market adjacent to city hall for a food distribution to be held by The Yellow Hat Society. The food giveaway is set to begin at 10 a.m. next Wednesday, September 22.
*Approved the demolition of a structure at 69 Martin Street, which has been declared “unsafe and a public nuisance.”
*Confirmed that the city’s official trick-or-treat period will be 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, October 30, since Halloween is on a Sunday.