Medic One has been fighting budgeting issues for several years now. Medic One provides ALS (advanced life support) for south Lewis county and responds to 911 calls for assistance on ALS. The fire districts have Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) that support BLS (basic life support) calls.
I've been an EMT in district #2 for three years - and the bickering within the interlocal has been going on for that entire period of time. I believe it's time to stop the infighting and truly provide services to the tax payers.
EMS levies are approved in the district and are supposed to provide funding for EMS services. It's nothing more than insurance that you can get help when you call 911 - and all insurance costs. If Medic One continues to cut back because no one wants to pay, they might as well shut down. Just like insurance, if you don't have enough to cover your car - why bother?
The people of South Lewis County have approved EMS levies to fund those services. If the money is not going to Medic One support - where is it being spent? Are we getting what we're paying for - or are the districts using it for a new shiny tool that may or may not get used?
When I joined the fire department as a volunteer, I assumed I'd be fighting fires. I do - but the reality is that probably 95% of the calls I go on are EMS calls. The medics have been a huge part of that and seeing Medic One stripped to a skeleton is extremely distasteful. And, the continual ups and downs, hiring's and lay-offs is not an environment I would want to work in. If you lay-off two more medics (which has been proposed) now and then later decide to hire to staff up - who's going to want to work in a totally insecure environment that the interlocal board and commissioners are creating?
I'm paying for EMS service with my taxes and I voted for fire commissioners for district #2. I expect them to do what's best for me and my family and not play political games with my "chips". I feel that district #2 has managed the Medic One program well - and has provided funding that was necessary to keep it running. I believe the citizens of the other districts expect the same from their representatives.
The interlocal board and individual district representatives (commissioners) need to park their egos at the door and do what's best for their constituents - period! Regardless of hidden agendas, personalities, pet peeves, etc., EMS services have been funded (levies) and it's their job to provide those services. The meetings I've been to have mostly been power struggles and ego trips that haven't provided any positive input to the process of providing ALS services and funding Medic One. It is time to change that and do what you were elected for.
Jim Groebner, District #2 EMT