The current ambulance vote proposal is not equitable for all Benton County residents. The discrepancy between the providers is far too wide. Siloam Springs wants $416,422 for 2014 with an additional $200,000 possible for 2015, or 49.3 percent of the money requested (residents covered equals 15,000). Bella Vista wants only $10,000, or 1.1 percent of the money (residents covered equals 26,000).
Rogers wants $209,000 for 2014 and $317,000 for 2015, or 24.4 percent of the money requested. This will change the fee with both of the above to $131 per household for 2015. The ballot makes no statement about the $85 fee. It instead only applies to an EMS district countywide. Don’t be fooled: The $85 fee can be changed at any time by the Quorum Court without your input.
We need to establish an EMS district, such as NEBCO did, for our area east of Rogers. We then will have our own input to cost and service. This will take approximately six months to process for an election on our proposed request. We then will have the controls in our hands for service and costs in the future. This district would have about 8,000 voters, and more than 4,000 households. The boundaries are already defined by the three districts for fire services; no reinventing the wheel necessary.
The county should continue to negotiate with the seven cities on a more equitable plan to cover the cities and the individual district they serve. The county stated they would provide funds for 2014 service, however, jumped to an election in February instead of November. We needed these town hall meetings to inform all of our people, as you have seen from the past meetings many people are unhappy with the present proposal. A better plan can be prepared with a vote for November. The present vote will not show a true picture of the feelings of the residents and should be canceled.
If the mayor of Rogers is driving out Arkansas 12 east and has a serious auto accident near the Arkansas 12 east bridge, will the Rogers ambulance refuse service to the 911 call?
Will Rogers refuse to come to the Prairie Creek Marina for an accident during the FLW Fishing Tournament, where many local, national and international participants. How much money does this event bring to Northwest Arkansas every year? Will new business want to move to Northwest Arkansas?
Establish a committee of residents from each district to form a plan for service, then the people will have valuable input as to a vote in November.
E.J. Miller
Prairie Creek