The Mobile City Council opened a public hearing Nov. 12 on Acadian Ambulance Service’s application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity and heard more than a dozen speakers before the council held the item over for one week.

Porter Taylor, director of operations for Acadian Ambulance, told the council Acadian seeks a third certificate in Mobile to “bring a very comprehensive prehospital care training program and also a transportation program.” He said his company’s review of call data suggested Mobile Fire Department was handling 40–45% of BLS calls and that hospital emergency departments reported average waits of “3 to 4 hour[s].” Taylor asked the council to consider Acadian’s experience and its investment in local training and quality assurance: “We want to integrate our aggressive training and career development program,” he said.

Robert Benoit, identified as Acadian’s fire liaison supervisor and a retired fire chief, described long-term partnerships with Acadian and urged the council to permit the company to operate in Mobile.

Opponents, including Sabrina Mass, a retired nurse, said the council should deny the application. Mass distributed a packet and alleged multiple lawsuits and data breaches involving Acadian, saying the incidents undermined trust: “This is factual stuff … I am definitely against Acadian,” she said, and asked the council to review the company’s record and the letters of support she questioned.

Local providers and other speakers warned that adding a third private provider could destabilize the existing market and further strain the region’s limited EMS workforce. Kenneth Hughes, owner of Medevac Ambulance Service, said he had rebuilt capacity after a prior market exit and warned that “introducing a third provider into the city would divide an already strained workforce” and may not increase the number of ambulances available to the community.

Representatives for Newman's Ambulance described an 86-year family-run operation and urged the council to consider local history and the effect on employees. Kenneth Newman said his company has operated without city subsidy for decades and described concern over employee recruitment by outside firms.

Acadian representatives responded directly to several allegations. Melon Ashley said Acadian had been invited to consider Mobile and disputed specific claims about litigation records: “We are here to add … We do feel it’s there,” Ashley said, urging the council to allow Acadian to operate. Joshua Spencer, speaking for Global Medical Response (parent of AMR and Lifeguard), warned the council that prior market exits supported caution and recommended reissuing or revisiting the RFP process.

Procedurally, the council initially limited speakers to four per side but voted to waive that rule and permitted up to eight speakers on each side. After hearing both sides, the clerk announced the council would not act on the certificate at the Nov. 12 meeting and held the item over one week for further review and vetting.

What’s next: The council scheduled follow-up consideration of the Acadian application at a subsequent meeting; no vote was taken on Nov. 12.