KIRBYVILLE, Texas — A packed house at the Kirbyville City Council meeting Tuesday night underscored how important ambulance service is to Jasper County residents. But a deal to secure that service hit an unexpected hurdle just minutes before it was set to be finalized.

Jasper County Emergency Services District 3 had been prepared to sign a three-year contract with Allegiance Mobile Health, but the process stalled after a representative from Acadian Ambulance Service spoke up, saying they were never offered the chance to bid.

Gary Barlow, the incoming president of ESD 3, admitted after the meeting that the board made a mistake. “That’s the bottom line, I didn’t know, I didn’t research it enough evidently. That’s my fault,” Barlow said. “But we will check now and we will move forward wit

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