The Chicago Tribune recently published an article focusing on a contentious bill from Trace Ambulance to the Village of Tinley Park. The situation has drawn significant attention due to the financial disagreement between the two parties. In early summer, Tinley Park decided to end its longstanding 35-year partnership with a local ambulance service provider, aiming to cut costs. However, just days after the contract ended, the village received a staggering final bill from Trace Ambulance, totaling almost half a million dollars. This sum covers fees that Trace Ambulance claims were previously waived in previous agreements, according to Trace's president, Christopher Vandenberg. “There’s no doubt in my mind that we deserve this money,†Vandenberg stated firmly. Despite Trace's insistence, the village has refused to settle the bill, maintaining silence regarding the dispute to avoid potential legal issues. In a letter addressed to Trace, Tinley Park Treasurer Brad Bettenhausen dismissed the claim, asserting that the village does not recognize any obligation to pay additional compensation. “We strongly believe that Trace never had a legitimate claim to these funds,†Bettenhausen wrote in the letter, which was disclosed following an open records request by the Tribune. The current standoff began in July, following Tinley Park's decision to terminate its contract with Trace and instead award a three-year deal worth $3.7 million to Kurtz Ambulance, a competitor offering a bid that was 21% cheaper. Trace argues that the terms of their old contract stipulated that the village would owe them $200 per hour for every ambulance service beyond the contracted number, a condition they say was ignored until after the contract's expiration. After Tinley Park's decision to drop Trace, the company calculated these additional hours dating back to May 2010, resulting in a total bill of $492,206. This unexpected invoice, sent on August 12, has caused a rift between the two parties. Bettenhausen responded in writing, expressing surprise at the suddenness and magnitude of the charge. He noted that such additional fees should have been communicated regularly throughout the contract term, ideally annually, but none were ever mentioned prior to this final bill. The village has rejected the bill outright, questioning both the validity and the accuracy of the charges, stating they found no evidence of requests for extra services. In a follow-up letter dated September 5, Vandenberg reiterated Trace’s demand for payment. Bettenhausen once again denied the claim, pointing out that Trace had never formally claimed entitlement to these additional payments in the past. Vandenberg countered by stating that his company had willingly "waived" these charges during previous negotiations. Public discord surfaced earlier in May during a public safety meeting when village officials disclosed that the Kurtz bid was significantly lower than Trace’s. At that meeting, Vandenberg and Brian Dolan, an executive from Trace’s parent company, voiced their concerns publicly, warning the village that terminating Trace could lead to unforeseen risks. Vandenberg emphasized that Trace had been Tinley Park’s sole ambulance provider since 1979, with only a brief interruption in the 1990s. He also recalled that during the negotiation process for the now-defunct contract, Tinley officials had requested cost reductions due to economic challenges, which Trace had agreed to. The decision to hire Kurtz, approved at a July 1 Village Board meeting, sparked controversy among some residents and former Trace employees, who criticized the trustees for abandoning a local business familiar with the area. Thanks, Dan! Hydrophilic,Hydrophilic Silica With Dds Treatment,Hydrophobic Silica In Coatings,Silicon Dioxide With Hydrophobic Groups Henan Minmetals East New Materials CO. LTD. , https://www.eastmaterials.com