A new partnership between Palmview and Sullivan City is expected to ease concerns regarding how quickly residents can receive medical care in an emergency.

Under the new agreement, Palmview will provide EMS services to Sullivan City. As part of the deal, Palmview will have an ambulance parked at the Sullivan City Fire Station for eight hours a day for three days per week.

Sullivan City doesn’t have its own EMS provider. Palmview’s ambulance won’t be stationed at the city 24/7 because it’s also serving residents in the city of Peñitas.

Sullivan City Manager Richard Ozuna said the city was previously contracted with La Joya to provide coverage, but an ambulance was never stationed in Sullivan City.

Ozuna said he believes this is what makes the new agreement with Palmview better.

“We are trying to get a better response to our community and to our citizens,” Ozuna said. “Palmview came with a good proposal. It’s a little bit less cost, and we are going to have an ambulance."

Sullivan City will be paying Palmview $10,000 a month for EMS service coverage. The city will save about $5,000 per year compared to their previous contact with La Joya.

Palmview will still respond to emergencies even when their ambulance is not stationed in Sullivan City.

Sullivan City is still determining which days they will have the ambulance, and there are plans to have the ambulance stationed in town longer.

“If more calls are generated, there could be an agreement toward a little longer hours, but right now this is where we are at.,” Ozuna said.

The new agreement goes into effect November 2025.

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