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The Chicago Tribune recently published an article detailing a contentious dispute between the Village of Tinley Park and Trace Ambulance, a local provider that had served the community for over three decades. This summer, the village made the decision to end its 35-year partnership with Trace, claiming the move would lead to cost savings. However, just weeks after the contract officially ended, the village was hit with an unexpected final bill from Trace for nearly $500,000.
According to Trace President Christopher Vandenberg, the charges were for fees that had previously been waived during their long-term agreement. “It’s clear we’re owed this money,†he stated. But the village has refused to pay, and officials have remained tight-lipped about the matter, citing potential legal action.
In a letter obtained through an open records request, Tinley Park Treasurer Brad Bettenhausen expressed confusion over the amount, noting that the village had never been informed of these charges before. “We were surprised by the size of the invoice, as we had not been previously advised such charges existed,†he wrote. He also pointed out that if such fees had been part of the original agreement, they should have been billed regularly over the course of the contract, rather than being presented as a surprise at the end.
The dispute began in July when Tinley Park awarded a $3.7 million contract to Kurtz Ambulance, a competitor based in New Lenox. According to officials, Kurtz's bid was 21% lower than what Trace had offered. Trace claims that under the expired contract, the village was required to pay $200 per hour for any additional ambulance services beyond what was stipulated. The company calculated the hours from May 2010 onward and sent the village a total bill of $492,206.
Tinley Park rejected the payment, questioning both the validity and the timing of the charges. They also noted that there was no record of the village ever requesting the extra service. In response, Vandenberg reiterated the company’s demand for payment, stating that they had historically waived the fee during negotiations. However, Bettenhausen again denied the request, emphasizing that Trace had never claimed entitlement to such compensation.
The conflict first surfaced publicly in May during a safety meeting, where village officials revealed that Kurtz’s bid was significantly lower than Trace’s. At the time, Vandenberg and Brian Dolan, an executive from Trace’s parent company, attended the meeting and warned the board that ending the contract could be risky. Vandenberg highlighted that Trace had been the village’s ambulance provider since 1979, with only a brief interruption in the 1990s.
He also mentioned that during contract negotiations, Tinley officials had asked for cost reductions due to economic conditions, which Trace agreed to. Despite this, the village ultimately chose to switch providers, a decision that sparked backlash from some residents and Trace employees who felt the local business was being unfairly replaced.
Thanks, Dan.
July 09, 2025