It’s no secret that Valley has contracted with the East Alabama Water, Sewer and Fire Protection District to take over EMS service for the city.

What some might not know is that this has already made waves.

Specifically, it has been reported that the city has had to rely on Lanett for EMS service occasionally, whenever Valley finds itself shorthanded. The fact that the city has had to do this recently was taken by some to mean the city is struggling.

This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Mayor Leonard Riley has said that an EMS worker went home last week and the city could not find a replacement for the night, so Lanett was brought in through an intergovernmental contract with Lanett for help.

Unfortunately, rumors have been flying related to this decision.

Valley making this decision is one that will have many implications for the area. Not only will it streamline EMS service, but it will save the city money. The current system costs several hundred thousand dollars a year in lost funds, with a projected $500,000 loss this year.

It’s true that this move might not sit well with everyone and there are sure to be some people negatively affected. But the pros outweigh the cons for a city attempting to reduce operating costs, as many are. This is just another in a long line of good decisions made by the city.