Rapides Parish Police Jury

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL

COMMENT ON ANY AGENDA ITEM

1. Motion to approve, adopt and implement the April 22, 2026, recommendation of the Parish Ambulance Advisory Committee (Ambulance Control Board) on the Parish contract with Pafford EMS as the sole provider for ambulance services. (Mr. Harris, Ambulance Services Chairman)
2. Adjournment

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April 27, 2026

1. Motion to approve, adopt and implement the April 22, 2026, recommendation of the Parish Ambulance Advisory Committee (Ambulance Control Board) on the Parish contract with Pafford EMS as the sole provider for ambulance services. (Mr. Harris, Ambulance Services Chairman)
2. Adjournment BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT Theresa Pacholik, Secretary/Treasurer

The Police Jury of the Parish of Rapides, State of Louisiana, was duly convened a s the governing authority of said Parish by Hon. Craig Smith , President, who welcomed all present and then called the meeting to order at 11:30 a.m.

The invocation was given by Mr. Randy Harris.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Bubba Moreau.

There were present: Craig Smith, President and Police Jurors: Davron “Bubba” Moreau, Randy Wiggins, Randy Harris, Danny Bordelon, Oliver “Ollie” Overton, Jr., Sean McGlothlin and Parrish Giles.

Absent: Jay Scott.

Also present were : M s. Theresa Pacholik , Secretary/Treasurer; Mr. Gregory L. Jones, Legal Counsel; Ms. Devon Davis; Ms. Sarah Vidrine; Ms. Debra Wess; Mr. Ryan Elkins; Ms. Angie Branton; Ms. Betty Jo Bourgeois; Chief Jody Glorioso; Chief David Corley; Asst. Chief Greg Simmons; Chief Josh Harper; Chief April Ward; Chief Wes Ander; Chief Kevin Kees; Chief Chad Gremillion; Ms. Kay Michiels; Mr. Trey Gist; Chief Sam Allen; Mr. David Gill; Mr. Ron Parker; Mr. Alex Pafford; Mr. Greg Pafford; Ms. Jessica Trichel; Ms. Tonya Barnard; Mr. Jacob Stroud; Ms. Charlene Kessler; Mr. Shane Kessler; Mr. Kenny Kessler; Mr. Freddie Parker; Ms. Taylor Davis; Mr. Jon Reid; Ms. Melissa Gregory; Mr. Steven Maxwell; and Ms. Lisa Walker.

Mr. Jay Scott arrived at 11:35 a.m.

SPECIAL SESSION

APRIL 28, 2026

On motion by Mr. Parrish Giles, seconded by Mr. Randy Harris to approve, adopt and implement the April 22, 2026 , recommendation of the Parish Ambulance Advisory Committee (Ambulance Control Board) on the Parish contract with Pafford EMS as the sole provider for ambulance services. Discussion ensued.

Mr. Smith asked for everyone to refer to page 2 for the recommendation by the Ambulance Control Board. See recommendation below.

III. Recommendation The Board recommends that the Rapides Parish Police Jury continue the Pafford EMS contract for its remaining four-year term, subject to three amendments: # Amendment Summary 1 Compliance baseline adjusted Pafford must continue to submit the monthly compliance-data report on raw response-time data, without contract exceptions. The 90% compliance ratio remains a stated goal that Pafford should continue to pursue. The baseline minimum compliance ratio shall sit at 80%, in light of inaccurate monthly reports the prior ambulance provider furnished. This is consistent with industry standard across the nation. 2 Advanced-EMT response authority Pafford may assign Advanced EMTs to respond to Priority 2 calls, subject to verification that the assignment matches current Louisiana statutes governing scope of practice. This shall not impact the number of paramedics required under the contract and provides additional coverage optionality to the Parish. 3 Staffing flexibility (weekly average)

The required number of ambulances shall change to twelve (12) paramedic units and twenty (20) total ambulances, computed as a weekly average per day rather than a rigid daily minimum. This allows the provider to on a weekly basis to determine when and where ambulances are needed. This shall not affect the placement of ambulances in the Zone 3 areas like Boyce and Deville.

On motion by Mr. Randy Wiggins, seconded by Mr. Sean McGlothlin to enter in Executive Session to discuss the recommendation by the Ambulance Control Board.

Roll call vote was as follows:

YEAS: Randy Wiggins, Sean McGlothlin and Jay Scott. NAYS: Craig Smith, Ollie Overton, Randy Harris, Bubba Moreau, Parrish Giles and Danny Bordelon. ABSENT: none On roll call vote the motion failed 3-6 to go into executive session.

SPECIAL SESSION

APRIL 28, 2026

Mr. McGlothlin stated he felt the Jury was going backwards if all the amendments were approved. He stated due to critical needs in the City of Alexandria they needed to keep the same number of paramedics per the existing contract.

Mr. Harris said we currently have better response times and an increased number of ambulances in the Parish than what we had in the past.

Mr. Wiggins stated by accepting the recommendations the Jury is making the Pafford contract more liberal. Pafford is still not meeting the goals of the initial contract and they have not been in compliance since they began. He also voiced concerns for the response times within the City of Alexandria.

Mr. Jones reminded everyone that the Ambulance Control Board will continue to meet monthly and they have the ability and oversight to make a recommendation to the Jury if Pafford is not providing adequate service to cancel the contract for ambulance services.

Mr. Scott asked for the compliance rate to stay at 90%. He has concerns about his district. Mr. Jones stated there are currently two permanent ambulance stations in his District. If he or any constituents have problems, they need to bring it to the Ambulance Control Board.

Mr. Wiggins stated we are reducing the number of ambulances in the Parish. He has concerns and feels there needs to be more discussion to be able to vote.

Mr. McGlothlin asked the Jury to consider adding a fourth item to the recommendation to give Pafford thirty (30) days to hire a third-party monitoring company to review their response times. Mr. Jones stated he recommends sending a letter to the Ambulance Control Board to consider a third-party monitoring company to review the monthly information submitted by Pafford.

Mr. Smith asked for a roll call vote for the resolution.

On motion by Mr. Parrish Giles, seconded by Mr. Randy Harris the following resolution was presented and adopted:

RESOLUTION

BY

WHEREAS, Pafford EMS, Ambulance Service Provider, was awarded the sole provider contract for ambulance services in Rapides Parish on April 10, 2025 with a one (1) year probationary period, effective June 10, 2025 at 12:01 a.m.;

NOW, THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED, that the contract of Pafford EMS is hereby approved and accepted for an additional four (4) years with the following recommendations approved by the Ambulance Advisory Committee on April 22, 2026, to be implemented effective immediately:

SPECIAL SESSION

APRIL 28, 2026

III. Recommendation The Board recommends that the Rapides Parish Police Jury continue the Pafford EMS contract for its remaining four-year term, subject to three amendments: # Amendment Summary 1 Compliance baseline adjusted Pafford must continue to submit the monthly compliance-data report on raw response-time data, without contract exceptions. The 90% compliance ratio remains a stated goal that Pafford should continue to pursue. The baseline minimum compliance ratio shall sit at 80%, in light of inaccurate monthly reports the prior ambulance provider furnished. This is consistent with industry standard across the nation. 2 Advanced-EMT response authority Pafford may assign Advanced EMTs to respond to Priority 2 calls, subject to verification that the assignment matches current Louisiana statutes governing scope of practice. This shall not impact the number of paramedics required under the contract and provides additional coverage optionality to the Parish. 3 Staffing flexibility (weekly average)

The required number of ambulances shall change to twelve (12) paramedic units and twenty (20) total ambulances, computed as a weekly average per day rather than a rigid daily minimum. This allows the provider to on a weekly basis to determine when and where ambulances are needed. This shall not affect the placement of ambulances in the Zone 3 areas like Boyce and Deville.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the recommendations listed approved are hereby approved and accepted by the Rapides Parish Police Jury by roll call vote;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Parish President is hereby authorized to sign all necessary documents in connection with the ambulance services provider contract;

Roll call vote was as follows:

YEAS: Craig Smith, Ollie Overton, Randy Harris, Bubba Moreau, Parrish Giles and Danny Bordelon. NAYS: Randy Wiggins, Sean McGlothlin and Jay Scott. ABSENT: none On roll call vote the motion passed 6-3.

Passed, approved and adopted by the President and the Police Jury of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, on this 28th day of April, 2026.

On motion by Mr. Ollie Overton, seconded by Mr. Craig Smith there being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:54 a.m. SPECIAL SESSION APRIL 28, 2026