City Administrator Tom Ourada explained that several options have been discussed and this one of those options. Some options are a resolution continuing until the end of the year, defaulting or looking at renewing. There has been ongoing discussion and this part of the process that they are walking through.  Stephanie Boldt, President/CEO of Crete Area Medical Center addressed the Finance Committee and stated that she is disappointed to see this resolution and the lack of communication. Boldt stated that they send a paramedic on every call and that the City of Crete can't send a paramedic on every call. Boldt added that CAMC also provides all the transfers. Boldt explained that there was also physicians, board members, Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Financial Officer, a paramedic from CAMC present at the meeting. 
Mayor Dave Bauer stated that $90,000 plus a 3% increase every year for the City budget each year means they have to take it out of other departments. When there was a conversation about the possibility of lowering that price CAMC did come back with $80,000 which is still a lot. 
Dr. Jason K. Hesser stated that there are about 55 times per year that paramedics have had to bypass CAMC and go to another hospital in Lincoln to get the appropriate medical care for the patient. Boldt explained that the inter-hospital patient transfers are also the ones that are relied heavily on CAMC's paramedics. 
Council member Tom Crisman asked about how many calls are for Crete and Boldt answered that about 52-53% of calls are in Crete. Boldt stated she could get updated numbers to the City Council. Council member Anthony Fitzgerald asked if CAMC had asked the larger Bryan at corporate level to help supplement this in the CAMC budget. Fitzgerald added that there are many benefits that the City of Crete provides to Bryan Health. For example, the life flight services get a good deal to operate out of the Crete Municipal Airport and pretty much all those flights end up at a Bryan facility. 
Boldt explained that the CAMC budget is specific to this hospital and the larger Bryan is not going to fund this specific program and this program is a commitment to the community. Boldt explained that the cost to run the program in salaries alone is about $400,000. 
Dr. Eric Post mentioned that it seemed like the City of Crete was slipping this resolution into a meeting and asked for this item to be tabled so that they can present more information and numbers. City Administrator Tom Ourada explained that the City of Crete is not slipping this into a meeting and there have been ongoing conversations about this and the council is exploring the options and this is an option being presented and there will be further discussion on a course of action. Council member Kyle Frans asked if they could have a meeting where the Fire Department is also present. 
Finance Committee member Dale Strehle stated that he would like more numbers and information and for this item to be tabled.