Glendale was recently paid more than $1 million owed by a private ambulance provider.

The money is back-payment for more than a year of Glendale Fire Department staff riding with patients as they were taken to a hospital by Southwest Ambulance.

Fire departments have discretion whether to do that, and it’s often done to ensure continuum of care.

Greg James, west division president for Rural/Metro, said he ordered the payments halted in September 2014 because there wasn’t a valid contract with the city. Rural/Metro includes Southwest Ambulance.

“Unfortunately that led to a number of conversations, and frankly some delays on both sides of the fence, that caused it to take I think a lot longer than we wanted to,” James said. “But ultimately we were able to sit down with the right people and talk through the issues and come to an agreement that I think made sense for both the city of Glendale and Rural/Metro.”

The Glendale city council unanimously approved the deal in November. Going forward, Southwest Ambulance will pay Glendale about $100 every time a Glendale Fire Department employee accompanies a patient in a Southwest Ambulance.

James said the old contract has been extended, and some new provisions were added. Glendale can end the agreement with Southwest Ambulance at any time, as long as it gives a 90-day notice.

The money will go to the city’s general fund, city officials said.