By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com
It took some 911 board members long pauses before casting their vote on which ambulance provider should be awarded a contract, but in the end the panel voted 5-2 in favor of recommending Pafford Emergency Medical Services over the Arkadelphia-based Valor EMS to respond to 911 medical emergencies in Clark County, Arkansas.
The vote came Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, after a meeting of the county’s 911 Governing Board at which one representative of a citizen advisory committee (or Selection Committee) announced that Pafford scored slightly higher on a rating list and explained the process by which they came to their conclusion.
About a week ahead of a closed meeting held by the selection committee, the two ambulance providers had submitted Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) to the county judge’s office, which delivered them to the selection committee. The seven-member selection committee then reviewed those RFQs and scored each company individually in eight categories: Ambulance Operations; Clinical Operations; Dispatch and Reporting Operations; Financial Strength; Corporate Structure and Profile; References; Accreditation with Associations; and Cooperation with Other Agencies.
Mark Manning, an Arkadelphia accountant chosen to represent the selection committee at Tuesday’s meeting, said members held much discussion in weighing each company’s qualifications, then voted independently before tallying the overall results.
Ultimately, Pafford outscored Valor 280-272 in the overall ratings.
Manning said Financial Strength was the category with the largest margin, with Pafford scoring higher.
Manning then fielded questions from the 911 board.
CLICK HERE to watch our Facebook Live video of Tuesday’s meeting.
Caddo Valley Mayor Joe Jackson asked if pending litigation was factored into the scoring. Pafford, he pointed out, is named as a defendant in several pending lawsuits for various complaints, including medical malpractice and automobile torts. Manning said the selection committee did address concerns over pending lawsuits, although it was unclear which category litigation fell into. Manning added that, given Pafford’s wide coverage area throughout Arkansas, the company was likely more apt to be exposed to litigation.
Jackson also noted that Valor’s qualifications were based on a 3-year period whereas Pafford’s qualifications were based on a 5-year window.
Gurdon Mayor Larry Thomerson inquired whether the contract would guarantee the holder be have exclusivity to both medical emergencies and transfers. Tucker clarified that transfers would not be part of the contract.
Given the driving distance between Arkadelphia and Amity, Mayor John McAnnally, asked whether his city would be served by Pafford’s ambulance crew stationed in nearby Glenwood; Tucker said Amity would be better served by that crew rather than relying solely on ambulances in Arkadelphia. To that end, Tucker said the contract should include a clause for an interlocal agreement between providers so that one could respond if the other was busy.
With no further questions, Arkadelphia City Manager Gary Brinkley made a motion to accept the recommendation. The motion prompted a second from Gurdon Mayor Thomerson.
Voting in favor of the Pafford recommendation were Brinkley, Thomerson, Amity Mayor McAnnally, Arkadelphia Police Chief Jason “Shorty” Jackson, and Clark County Office of Emergency Management Director Tate Chanler. Voting against the recommendation were Arkadelphia Fire Chief Andy Neel and Caddo Valley Mayor Joe Jackson.
911 board members not casting a vote were Tucker, who abstained, and Sheriff Jason Watson, who was not in attendance.
The recommendation now heads to the Clark County Quorum Court for a final decision. Tucker said the quorum court may accept the two committees’ recommendations or make its own recommendation. The quorum court’s next meeting is Monday, Sept. 8, at 5:30 p.m. Those meetings are open to the public and held in the Circuit Courtroom of the Clark County Court Complex, 419 Clay St.
CLICK HERE to watch our Facebook Live video of Tuesday’s meeting.