Streator Mayor Tara Bedei says the city looked at all the options before deciding to create their own ambulance service. She says American Medical Response, the company that provides staff for the ambulances, was at a low cost which equaled low risk. She say in this first year with the service, the city is throwing money at the service. She also says first two years, the city won’t get accurate numbers for what’s being spent on the service.
Streator Mayor Tara Bedei.
City Commissioner and Mayoral Candidate Brian Crouch says the city dropped the ball on getting ambulance service. He says when American Medical Transport, or AMT, asked the city for a new contract because it was too expensive for them to run ambulance service, more money would have been saved by signing the contract instead of signing with American Medical Response for providing staff for the city’s ambulance service.
City Commissioner and Mayoral Candidate Brian Crouch.
Five other candidates running for city commissioner also spoke about their visions for the city at a Candidate Night hosted by the Streator Chamber of Commerce at the Eastwood Restaurant and Golf Course. After opening statements, each candidate responded to five questions that were drawn randomly by the chamber. Other topics included how the mayor and commissioners can bring in jobs to the city to what’s a candidate’s vision for the Streator Incubator. They also touched on how local government affects a person’s life every day, so people should get out and vote. The event ended with closing statements.
From left to right: Commissioner candidates Tim Geary, David Reed. and Scott Scheuer
An audience fills the Eastwood Restaurant and Golf Course for last night’s candidate forum.