Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services (RCEMS) has provided an ambulance service throughout the area since 1972. County Mayor Bill Ketron says the City of Murfreesboro now wants to have their own ambulance service…

The city has put out an RFP or "Request for Proposal," and is asking for proposals from outside agencies for providing an ambulance service.

The county mayor further explains his view of what the city is aiming to do...



Ketron said that he fears jobloss if the city moves forward with managing their own ambulance service...



Mayor Ketron told WGNS that Murfreesboro is wanting their own service to eleminate a delay in notifying the proper responder during a 9-1-1 call...



The county has offered to pay for the software to be installed, which would eleminate any delays in service by county paramedics. Ketron said that Murfreesboro officials seem unwilling to move in that direction and are focused on their own service.

The City of Murfreesboro and the county have been in negotiations over emergancy dispatching for about 12 months. Officials with the city say their goal is to have faster dispatching times when medical help is needed.