Rusk County commissioners on Thursday declined switching ambulance services from Champion EMS to East Texas Medical Center EMS.

ETMC representatives Mark Leitner and Ron Schwartz had requested the county cancel its ambulance contract with Champion EMS and begin using their services.

"Champion has done the county a good job in my opinion," Pct. 2 commissioner Mike Pepper said. "They've developed a personal relationship with the people ... that gives them a real good response time."

Pepper said Champion emergency response officials were familiar with county roads. Volunteer fire departments in the area also expressed a desire to continue services with Champion, he said.

In other business, commissioners renewed a contract with Allied Waste Services for the 2010 year and approved a letter from the company stating that it would not increase rates at its six county collection stations.