MUSCLE SHOALS — Though it has been more than three months since the city first said it was going to solicit bids for ambulance service, Muscle Shoals Mayor David Bradford said the city still plans to follow that course of action.

Bradford said the city’s purchasing agent, Lisa Ricks, is compiling information from other municipalities that use the bid system to select an ambulance service provider.

Currently the city’s ambulance needs are covered by Keller EMS, which is owned by Helen Keller Hospital. City Council expressed a desire in April 2012 to switch ambulance providers to Muscle Shoals-based Shoals Ambulance Service.

The Colbert County E-911 board then expressed its support of the county-owned ambulance service, Keller EMS, but later said if the city would bid the service, they would dispatch the service provider selected.

That came after both the city and the E-911 board requested an official opinion from the Alabama Attorney General office.

That opinion stated in its conclusion that if the city desired to select an exclusive provider, it should bid the service.