Long-term solutions for what Dunwoody calls its EMS Emergency will have to wait until February or longer, as a result of Thursday’s meeting of the Region III Emergency Medical Services Council.

The council heard the report from the ad hoc committee appointed to study the problem and it heard from Dunwoody Mayor Denis Shortal on the deal he worked with DeKalb County’s chief executive, Michael Thurmond, and reported in The Crier last week.

Dr. John Harvey, Region III chairman, received the reports and said a meeting with DeKalb is scheduled for Feb. 7, prior to the next council meeting Feb. 14.

Shortal told the EMS council that the Dunwoody had approved the memorandum of understanding with DeKalb. But he did not mention the rebuke or amendment approved at last week’s city council by a 6-1 vote.

Over Shortal’s dissent, the rest of the council voted on what could be called a “trust, but verify” measure.

The resolution by Councilor Terry Nall specified that the city’s request for its own ambulance zone remain an open request with the EMS Council until it’s established that the agreement with DeKalb is fully implemented, shown to be functional by AMR, the ambulance provider, and shown to be functional by a new ambulance provider should DeKalb choose one.

The EMS council was provided with the council’s request to leave the issue open until February.

While DeKalb has assigned two more ambulances to Dunwoody fire stations, they also will serve Doraville, Chamblee and Brookhaven.

DeKalb Fire Chief Darnell Fullum has acknowledged service problems north of I-285.

In simple terms, Dunwoody seeks its own zone with four ambulances 24 hours a day serving the city.

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