Although told previously on two occasions by Carroll County Commissioners to not contract with another county to provide ambulance service, the Jefferson Township Advisory Board voted unanimously to do just that. They decided to pursue a contract with the Monticello Fire Department to provide ambulance service for the remainder of 2009 at a special advisory board meeting Monday night.

Trustee Harold Erdmann explained commissioners' attorney Barry Emerson said the township could not legally contract ambulance service because the county was already providing service. Erdmann reported that Monticello attorney Dow Dellinger, who was retained by the township, conferred with the Monticello Fire Chief Shane Swaim and Monticello City Attorney George Loy.

Erdmann said Charles Nimits from the Indiana State Board of Accounts was also contacted for advice. He said the SBOA representative reported the agency did not know of any reason why township leaders could not contract with another county for the service using township funds.

Erdman said township residents wanted to go forth with the contract. He added the residents "would rather be part of the county but they didn't have the funding for it." He further stated he received no negative feedback from any township resident opposed to the contract.

County budget constraints in 2008 led to the reduction of ambulances in Carroll County, including the elimination of the ambulance based at Yeoman. Since the closest ambulance in Carroll County is in Delphi, township leaders believe ambulance response time to their residents will be quicker through the Monticello Fire Department.

The agreement with White County stipulates the township will purchase a heart monitor in exchange for the service at a maximum cost of $11,000.

Erdmann said Tuesday the contract would be effective when the township is able to "work it out with E-911" to dispatch the Monticello Fire Department Ambulance rather than the Carroll County service. He clarified that although Emerson advised the township could not use taxpayer money to pay for a service already provided to them from the county, he could not cite a code to prohibit the township from proceeding.

E-911 director Jay Dee Cree said Tuesday he would do nothing without permission and guidance from commissioners. He said he did not have the discretion to change county policy.

"He's got to work it out with the commissioners," he said about Erdmann. "They make the policy."

"The commissioners are my boss," he added. "I am not elected - I'm appointed to this position."