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Haynes of Wetumpka closing

By David Goodwin - News Editor
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Faced with a lack of confidence by the volunteer firemen and first responders of Elmore County, the name most residents have always associated with emergency care will pull its ambulances off the road at 7 a.m. Sunday.

Haynes Ambulance of Wetumpka told the Elmore County 911 Board it would cease operations in the territory where the Haynes family’s emergency care empire began more than 30 years ago.

After complaints by many of the county’s volunteer fire departments, the board was already considering the termination of its contract with Haynes.

Haynes of Wetumpka owner Perry Haynes had been given until Sunday at noon to respond to those complaints or have the company’s contract with the county terminated.

But at the county commission work session Thursday night, Elmore County 911 Administrator Annette DeVaughn said, “I guess they decided they’d just go ahead and do that (terminate service).”

The municipal and community first responders complained that Haynes’ ambulances were often so slow responding to emergency calls that, according to Eclectic assistant fire chief (and mayor) Alan Nummy, “we’d just tell (the family of victims) to put them in the car and take them to the hospital.”

“It was pretty much unanimous dissatisfaction,” Nummy said.

Haynes Ambulance of Wetumpka owner Perry Haynes declined to comment on the matter Friday.

DeVaughn said Care Ambulance in Tallassee had already presented the board with a Certificate of Need, the document by which an ambulance company agrees to serve a county, city or town. Care will position ambulances around the county Sunday morning to be ready for any emergencies that arise.

The changeover will mainly affect the unincorporated portions of Elmore County. DeVaughn said Haynes of Montgomery would most likely assume coverage in the county seat.

The 911 Board will meet at 7 p.m. Sunday to officially accept Care’s offer of interim service, and to begin the process of taking bids to serve the county’s unincorporated areas.

“Anyone who wants to make a bid is welcome to join this county in serving its residents,” DeVaughn told the commission.

The 911 Board met Oct. 10 to address the complaints made by the county’s municipal and community fire chiefs, DeVaughn said. The company was given 30 days “to clean up the problems.” Tuesday morning another meeting was held, with “at least 11” of the county’s VFD chiefs signing a letter of no confidence. Haynes Ambulance was told it had until Sunday to address the problems.

Tony Haynes said Haynes Ambulance of Alabama will take over service to the city of Wetumpka. He will also bid on the Certificate of Need for the county.

“Been in business here for 30 years,” Tony Haynes said. “I have a good reputation, and I think folks know that I live up to what I say I’m going to do. We’ll do what it takes to be sure citizens of Elmore County and Wetumpka have decent ambulance service.”

Haynes Ambulance of Alabama has served Elmore County and the surrounding area for more than 30 years. Launched by W.A. (Junior) Haynes as an emergency and non-emergency transport service in Wetumpka with two ambulances and eight medics in 1969, Haynes has since grown into the largest locally-owned private ambulance service in Central Alabama.

In March of 1977, Junior Haynes’ oldest son, Tony, opened in Montgomery and launched Haynes Ambulance of Alabama. Since 1987, Haynes Ambulance has expanded southward, to Troy, Union Spring, and Autauga, Dale and Macon counties.

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