Columbus City Council last night approved a 1.7 million dollar contract with a private company to bill insurance companies for EMS and ambulance services. Assistant Columbus Public Safety Director Katie Pishotti says the controversial program has generated millions of dollars in revenue since its inception in 2002.
Council also approved a 10-year, 75 percent property tax abatement for a real estate holding company to build an office and warehouse on vacant land at Crosswind Drive. Sponsoring Council member Elizabeth Brown says Jana Holdings will build and furnish the new facility, which will be leased to janitorial products firm Acorn Distributors.
Acorn will move its operations from East 2nd Avenue to the new facility. The abatement is worth one million dollars. Council also approved spending 1.5 million dollars for crews to repair 26 miles of alleys this year. The alleys are primarily located on the north, near east and south sides.