Warren County residents living outside the Vicksburg city limits are expected to continue receiving ambulance service from the Vicksburg Fire Department pending county approval of an extension of the emergency services agreement between the city and the Board of Supervisors.

The Board of Mayor and Alderman on Wednesday approved a resolution extending the interlocal agreement with the county for emergency services for another two years.

Under the new agreement, which runs through 2020, the county will pay $280,000 a year for emergency services such as the Vicksburg Fire Department’s rescue service, hazardous materials response and dive team to help cover the costs of providing the services outside the city limits. The $280,000 will be paid quarterly with the ambulance bills.

The fee for ambulance service is $400.

Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said he talked with Board of Supervisors President Richard George, who said the supervisors should approve the agreement,

“It’s (the agreement) good news for us and good news for the county and the city, particularly the county,” Flaggs said.

George said the supervisors are expected to vote on the agreement at their Aug. 6 meeting, adding the supervisors are presently working on the county budget.

He said he talked with Flaggs “and the agreement is just what George said it would be. I look for no problems with it.”

The initial agreement was approved in 2016. The contract at that time called for the county to pay $350 per ambulance run the first year and $400 per run the second year, as well as $280,000 for the county’s share of rescue service costs both years.

According to the new agreement, the city “shall secure and maintain adequate equipment and a trained staff to furnish emergency services to all citizens of Warren County.” Equipment operation and providing a trained staff will be the sole responsibility of the city.

Either party can terminate the agreement by giving 90 days’ notice.