Town approves ambulance deal

The Belgium Town Board on Monday approved a three-year contract with the Fredonia Fire Department for ambulance service.

The cost will be $150 per call, after the town hadn’t been charged anything for years.

The per-call cost is the same amount that Port Washington Fire Department charges for ambulance service for its portion of the town.

“This is something we’ve seen coming for quite a while,” Town Chairman Tom Winker said.

Fredonia Fire Chief Brian Weyker said the department’s costs rose after it hired a full-time emergency medical technician who receives benefits. The person replaced two part-timers who did not receive benefits.

He also said Medicaid and Medicare calls only pay about 40% to 50% of the department’s costs.