By Hunter Oberst
The Keene Sentinel
KEENE, N.H. — The city of Keene and Cheshire County have signed a one-year backup ambulance service agreement with Cheshire EMS, which went into effect Dec. 13.
Under this no-cost contract, the county-run Cheshire EMS will provide backup ambulance response and transport services to the Keene Fire Department. The agreement includes that Cheshire EMS will also provide free backup to towns for which the Keene Fire Department is the primary EMS provider.
City Manager Elizabeth Dragon said in an email Thursday that Keene Fire Chief Donald Farquhar and Cheshire EMS Chief Chris Olsen will need a short period of time to work out operational procedures.
The contract comes after tension rose between the Keene Fire Department and Cheshire County, fueled by the county’s use of American Rescue Plan Act funds in offering towns significantly less expensive contracts than the Keene department.
Despite signing the contract, Dragon said in an email to County Administrator Chris Coates that Keene continues to have serious concerns over how Cheshire EMS was funded.
“By entering into this Agreement, the City is not expressing its support for, or endorsement of, the funding mechanism used by the County in establishing [Cheshire EMS],” she said.
Coates told a reporter Friday that he believes the contract marks a new chapter between Cheshire County and Keene .
“I look forward to seeing it unfold and ensuring the city has backup ambulance and paramedic intercepts when it needs it,” he said.
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