Ambulance board still in works
Published 9:06 pm Thursday, March 12, 2009
It’s been discussed for some time now, but a proposal for the Pike County Commission to form an ambulance board remains on the table.
The board, originally proposed by Commissioner Ray Goodson, is something the commission plans to form in hopes of creating an official sounding board for both complaints and accolades of the contracted service with Care Ambulance.
But County Administrator Harry Sanders said the proposal is really on hold until research by the county attorney is complete.
“We’re kind of still waiting on some information from other counties and Care Ambulance to prepare a recommendation for the commission,” Sanders said.
Some of what they are seeking is how other counties have formed a board, who serves on it and how the board operates, but Sanders said he isn’t certain how much of that has been obtained.
County Attorney Allen Jones could not be reached for comment.
Now, complaints on ambulance service are filtered through the commission, as well as the E-911 Board.
But, if the board is formed, it will be the new public voice for ambulance service in the county.
Sanders said he isn’t sure who would serve on the board, whether it be county residents, commissioners or some of the emergency officials in the county.
“I’m not exactly sure how the board will be comprised,” Sanders said. “At this point, all I can do is speculate.”
The discussion of an ambulance board has been something commissioners have pondered on several occasions, but the proposal resurfaced when the county awarded a renewed ambulance bid to Care last December.
Since the contract has been renewed, Fire Chief Thomas Outlaw, who serves on the E-911 Board, said Care has met its contract requirements, especially in regards to response time.
“I know some people have come up with stuff, but those are just rumors,” Outlaw said. “We always check out any problem, and I have not had any whatsoever. They’ve got a required time to respond, and they either get there when we do or shortly thereafter.”