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Youngsville fires back at city over ambulance payment

By Josh Cotton 2 min read

Last August, the City of Warren threatened to not respond with its ambulance to Youngsville Borough.

Youngsville Borough Council called that bluff.

Borough Council on Monday decided not to respond to a bill from the City of Warren for three responses the city made to Youngsville Borough.

The City of Warren charges $500 for a response to a municipality where the city doesn't have an agreement with the municipality. That fee goes down when an agreement is in place.

Youngsville Borough has no such agreement.

And there pretty clearly aren't plans for one.

Concern was expressed that the city might be double-dipping – charging both the municipality and submitting insurance claims.

Borough Councilman Troy Clawson said the borough shouldn't pay until there's a court case that says payment is required.

"All they're trying to do is get us into an agreement," Clawson said. "To me it's not a legal thing."

Solicitor Tim Bevevino confirmed to council that they don't have to pay the city's invoice.

Clawson said the effort by the city is "barking up the tree for four calls a year."

"Tell them to pound salt," Mayor Scott Nelson said.

"Just ignore it," Councilwoman Nicole Cowan said.

State law places the responsibility to provide EMS services at the municipal level, whether it be township, borough or city.

When Conewango and Youngsville didn't pay an initial invoice, City Fire Chief Dave Krogler said that the city would serve notice to the relevant governing bodies that the city "will no longer respond to the (municipality) outside of mutual aid…."

Starting at /week.