The Vicksburg Fire Department will continue providing ambulance service to outside the city limits following approval by Attorney General Jim Hood of an interlocal agreement for emergency services approved by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and the Warren County Board of Supervisors.

Hood’s approval was announced in a letter read Monday at a meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The boards approved the one-year agreement in September, and representatives from both boards said they plan to begin negotiations on a new agreement after the first of the year when a new Board of Supervisors is seated.

Under the one-year contract, which expires Sept. 30, 2016, the county will reimburse the city $300 per emergency call dispatched to the county, except for calls originating from River Region Medical Center, and will be billed quarterly for ambulance service beginning Jan. 30.

The county had been paying $145 per run under a series of annual contracts since 2006.

“I’m glad we were able to get it approved and get it going,” Board of Supervisors President Bill Lauderdale said. “I want to thank the city for working with us. They have an excellent ambulance service, and I’m glad we’re a part of it.”

Lauderdale, who is retiring when his term ends Dec. 31, said the new board needs to start negotiations with the city on a new agreement as soon as possible. The present agreement was negotiated during the summer.

“I hope they don’t wait as long as we did to get it done and meet with the city and consider it,” he said. “I think there’s a lot more study that needs to be done and more information that needs to be gathered. We need to make sure everything is right before doing a long-term deal.”

Mayor George Flaggs Jr. declined to comment on Hood’s approval, adding it was expected.

North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield, one of the city representatives involved in negotiating the new contract, said he wants to meet with the new county board as soon after the first of the year as possible to negotiate an agreement.

“If we start in January, it gives us about a five-month window to reach an agreement by May,” he said. “The city and the county start their budget process in June, so that will gives us an extra two months to finalize everything.”

Mayfield favors a two-year contract because it gives both sides time to look at how operating costs go and make adjustments during negotiations to renew the agreement.

“The costs go up,” he said. “You have to pay for every syringe you use, gauze and to replace the medicines that may be used. I don’t think the agreement should go beyond two years.”