By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Special to the NEWS
San Benito City Commissioners opted to table an offer made by South Texas Emergency Care (STEC) to render EMS services to the city at the Dec. 18 city commission meeting.
The contract for the city’s current EMS provider, Medcare, was set to expire the first week of January, and the company “opted not to renew,” said Assistant City Manager Art Rodriguez. “We gave an opportunity for other EMS services to apply to work for the City of San Benito.”
Rodriguez said, “STEC got tabled because we needed more time to work out everything.”
Meanwhile, City Manager Manuel Lara “made contact with the vice president of Medcare and asked for extension coverage,” said Rodriguez. This will allow the city “time to work out more things on the contract, not to be rushed into it, and to review” before making a final choice.
Regarding the city’s decision to swap EMS providers, Mayor Joe H. Hernandez said there is no specific reason for the switch. He said, “Their (Medcare’s) contract came up. The only two people that placed resumes with the city were STEC EMS and Cameron County EMS.”
The mayor further stated that STEC will provide services to the community at no nominal fee to the City of San Benito. “In the past, we had services with South Texas (STEC), and it was very expensive. They charged in the six digits.” Since STEC is willing to render services free-of-charge, the city is happy to consider them once more, said Hernandez.
“With all due respect to the other services out there,” said Hernandez, “South Texas is one of the best. They have everything that it takes to provide quality service to the community.”
The item of EMS providers is slated to be discussed at the next commission meeting, to be held inside the San Benito Municipal Building, located at 401 N. Sam Houston Blvd., on January 8.
Read this story in the Dec. 26 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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