City council made a difficult decision, but it was the right one

Some decisions in public life don’t produce clear winners.
The Aurora City Council’s unanimous vote to contract with EMS Unlimited ends the city’s experiment with operating its own fire-based ambulance service. For some, that decision brings disappointment. For others, relief. For everyone, it closes one of the most debated issues Aurora has faced in years.
Now it’s time to move forward.
This vote should never be viewed as a criticism of the paramedics, EMTs and firefighters who have faithfully served our community. Their professionalism and commitment have never been in question. The financial model, however, was.
When an independent audit revealed ambulance operations had grown into a more than $2 million annual enterprise while draining the city’s cash reserves, elected officials had a responsibility to act. Ignoring those realities was not an option.
To its credit, the council didn’t rush the process. Members spent months reviewing proposals, listening to citizens, weighing concerns and asking difficult questions. The debate was sometimes emotional, but it reflected local government working as it should.
Ultimately, the numbers spoke for themselves.
The agreement with EMS Unlimited provides what Aurora desperately needed: financial stability. The city’s subsidy will decline substantially over the next three years while maintaining 24/7 ambulance coverage. The city retains ownership of its ambulances and facility, and the contract includes accountability measures, performance standards and an exit clause should the partnership fail to meet expectations.
Of course, signing a contract is only the beginning. EMS Unlimited now has the responsibility of earning Aurora’s confidence. Company leadership has pledged to invest in employees, work alongside local first responders and provide compassionate, professional care. Those commitments are encouraging. Now they must be fulfilled.
Likewise, the community should give the new provider a fair opportunity to succeed. Whether residents supported or opposed privatization, everyone shares the same goal: dependable emergency medical care when someone calls 911.
History won’t judge this decision by the controversy surrounding it, but by the results it produces. If Aurora receives excellent ambulance service while restoring long-term financial stability, the council will have accomplished exactly what it set out to do.
Sometimes leadership means making unpopular decisions. Just as often, it means making necessary ones.
-- Kurt Johnson