It appears by the conversation on the Change for Peru blog that the subject of the PVAS is a hot topic. I have had the experience of negotiating over the years with the board for PVAS on trying to place an ambulance in the city of LaSalle at our fire station. As most of you know, recently we were successful in having a staffed ambulance placed in our fire facility for a portion of each day.
I would like to take this opportunity to explain what I know about PVAS and its evolution over the years. Former Mayor Baker once explained to me that the ambulance facility started with equipment that Peru had once owned therefore the city of Peru decided in the original charter that its current mayor and two sitting alderman would make up the board. The understanding was that they could oversee payment back to Peru for its original investment. This was where the original problem started. The confusing thing was that the operation was to be a stand alone non-profit organization which operated separately from the city of Peru. It could and did contract with the cities of Peru,LaSalle and also the Dimmick area to offer ambulance coverage. This would be similar to the private services used by cities such as Streator and suburban cities as well. The problem stems in part with the name…Peru Volunteer Ambulance Service (PVAS). If this were the ”Red Star Ambulance Service” for example people would realize that it is a separate entity. Add to the fact that the charter was never changed to allow for private citizens to man the board and we arrive at the conundrum we have today. The city of Peru needs to either separate itself from the service or bring it totally under the control and ownership of the city. This gray area is the cause for all the concern we feel as citizens.
I want to stress that I feel the employees are doing a wonderful and professional job. In conversations with our fire chief Andy Bacidore, he has stated that the arrangement we have with the employees who staff our ambulance are excellent.
I had a conversation with Mayor Harl shortly before the election concerning the PVAS and he assured me that the city would have to look into the current arrangement as far as how the board was currently constructed to see what , if any changes, he thought were necessary.
I honestly don’t know what would be better in the long run, whether city ownership or private ownership would be preferred. I would leave that for their city council to discuss and decide. I am sure that the current confused state of operation needs to be addressed for the betterment and clarification of all who work for and depend on the ambulance service.
One other note, the PVAS board did amend the charter to allow for representation from LaSalle on its board. Currently Alderman Demes sits on the board and does assist in the oversight of the bills which are paid. The board meets every other Monday as far as I know. I was asked to be that representative originally by then Mayor Washkowiak but I turned it down. My feeling was that we were finally receiving services under a written contract or agreement, if you will, therefore we , as a city, did not need to be or should be on the board. My reasoning is that we contract with our garbage hauler in LaSalle and we don’t demand a seat on their board so why would we require it from our ambulance service. If the contract is not followed we have options to correct or end that relationship. I was out-voted and as a result LaSalle has more liability because of that board appointment. I would like to see that changed as well.
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