Three medical transfer services could provide Emergency Medical Service backup beginning Oct. 1 when the city begins its fire-based EMS program. City Council approved the first reading of three franchise ordinances Aug. 11 that could allow medical transfer services to be operated within the Georgetown city limits by American Medical Response of Texas Inc. also known as AMR; Acadian Ambulance Service of Texas LLC; and Serenity EMS LLC, which does business as Ameristat Ambulance. The council voted unanimously to approve agreements with Acadian and AMR and 4-3 to approve the agreement with Ameristat contingent upon the organization meeting city standards before the ordinances’ second readings scheduled for Sept. 22. Council members John Hesser, Ty Gipson, Rachael Jonrowe and Tommy Gonzaelz voted to approve the Ameristat ordinance. Council members Anna Eby, Keith Brainard and Steve Fought voted against. In June four companies applied for franchise agreements, including Acadian, AMR, Capital EMS and Ameristat. During the application process Acadian acquired Capital EMS. In late July, Fire Chief John Sullivan recommended AMR and Acadian as the city’s backup providers and later added Georgetown-based Ameristat. The company had not met the city’s communication standards; however Ameristat representative John Brian said the provider would reach them by the start of the program. “I am certain those expectations will be met,” Brian said. “Today do they meet the requirements? No. Will they by Oct. 1? Absolutely.” Ameristat stations six ambulances in Georgetown. “I hate to take a business out of Georgetown and close their doors on a decision we make,” Gipson said. “I lean more to give them the ramp up time.” Representatives from Acadian and AMR both spoke against approving the third franchise agreement. “Granting two franchise permits will meet [the city’s] needs,” said Troy Mayer, Acadian regional vice president for Central and south Central Texas. “The more ambulances you have creates confusion.” If approved in September, the companies would provide nonemergency transfer services and backup EMS response when all Georgetown transitional response vehicles are being used at the same time. The agreements are expected to help generate revenue for the city. Each company will pay $500 per year per ambulance as well as a $2,000 application fee to operate in Georgetown. The agreement is for two years, after which each company will have to reapply for a three-year term. Franchisees will also be required to report to the fire department monthly and penalties will be imposed for underperformance, Sullivan said.