(A) The county may issue a franchise hereunder to an ambulance provider, to be valid for a term of five years. The franchise holder can surrender franchise with 60 days notice and the county may revoke the franchise as provided in § 113.14(E). After a notice of service termination is given, the provider may reapply for a franchise if continued service is desired.
(B) Upon suspension, revocation, or termination of a franchise granted hereunder, such franchised ambulance service, rescue squad, or first responder unit immediately shall cease operations. Upon suspension, revocation, or termination of a driver’s license or an attendant’s certificate, i.e., First Responder, Rescue, Emergency Medical Technician, EMT-D, EMT-I, EMT-AI, or EMT-P certificate, such persons shall cease to drive an ambulance or provide medical care, first responder and rescue service or attend an ambulance. No franchisee shall allow or permit any individual to drive an ambulance or provide medical care in conjunction with the ambulance service, provide rescue service or first responder service while their requisite license or certificate is in a state of suspension or revocation.
(C) Each franchised service shall comply at all times with the requirements of this chapter, the franchise granted hereunder, and all applicable state and local laws relating to health, sanitation, safety, equipment, ambulance design and all other laws and ordinances.
(D) Prior approval of the county shall be required where ownership or control of more than 10% of the ownership or right of control of a franchise is acquired by a person or group of persons acting in concert, none of whom own or control 10% or more of such right of control, singularly or collectively, at the effective date of the franchise. By its acceptance of the franchise, the franchisee specifically agrees that any such acquisition occurring without prior approval of the county shall constitute a violation of the franchise by the franchisee and shall be cause for termination at the option of the county.
(E) Any change of ownership of a franchised service without the approval of the county shall terminate the franchise and shall require a new application and a new franchise and conformance with all the requirements of this chapter as upon original franchising.
(F) Any change in the level of service offered by a franchised ambulance service, rescue squad, or first responder unit without the approval of the county shall terminate the franchise and shall require a new application and a new franchise and conformance with all the requirements of this chapter as upon original franchising.
(G) No franchise may be sold, assigned, mortgaged, or otherwise transferred without the approval of the county, and a finding of conformance with all requirements of this chapter as upon original franchising. Each franchised ambulance, rescue, or first responder service, its equipment and the premises designated in the application and all records relating to its maintenance and operation, as such, shall be open to inspection by the state, the county, or their designated representatives.
(H) The franchise certificate shall be posted in a readily visible location at the base of operations for the franchised service.
(I) No franchise certificate shall be altered, defaced, removed, or obliterated.
(Ord. passed 6-26-1997)