The ongoing conflict between the Cypress Creek Emergency Medical Services and Harris County Emergency Services District No. 11 came to a head once more after CCEMS claimed in an Aug. 31 press release that their second attempt to submit information to be considered for renewing their contract was rebuffed.
CCEMS officials claimed they originally handed over financial records of how district funds are being used but were refused. The press release further stated that CCEMS offered access to its books with “reasonable restriction” but was again denied.
The press release said CCEMS is “not comfortable handing over the details of our service operations to existing or potential competitors.”
“Just last week, ESD [No.] 11 voted to apply for an emergency services provider license, hire an EMS consultant, hire a district executive director, business manager, medical director and any and all employees or contractors they deemed necessary,” the press release said. “This tells us they want to create an EMS service, based on our award-winning model, in direct competition with us.”
The press release also said the commissioners voted to withhold payments to CCEMS until all data is released.
In a statement emailed to Community Impact Newspaper Aug. 31, the ESD No. 11 board of trustees said it is “very concerned” about “use and potential misuse of taxpayer dollars” by CCEMS. The board further claimed that the information CCEMS said it would release is too limited in scope.
“Basically, CCEMS made an offer it knew nobody could ever accept in order to seem transparent while continuing to deny taxpayers the accountability they deserve,” the statement read.
Signs of friction between the two entities began showing in early June as the district was considering renewing its contract with CCEMS. Many board members spoke in favor of continuing the partnership, but issues in communication were brought up as well.
In late July, ESD No. 11 settled on three companies as candidates to replace CCEMS should their partnership end.
