Benton County Sets Ambulance Hearing

Sunday, July 13, 2014

BENTONVILLE -- Benton County residents can voice their opinions on plans for rural ambulance service at a public hearing Monday night.

The Quorum Court is considering a fee on rural households and a county millage to pay for the service. The hearing on those plans is set for 6:30 p.m. in the main courtroom in the County Courthouse in Bentonville.

What’s Next

Public Hearing

Benton County will hold a public hearing on its plans to pay for rural ambulance service at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the main courtroom on the third floor of the County Courthouse, 100 N.E. A St., on the downtown square in Bentonville. Access to the building is from the south, off Central Avenue. The Quorum Court is considering sending one or two proposals on for a vote at the Nov. 4 general election.

Source: Staff Report

The county is required to hold a public hearing on the proposal for an emergency medical services district with an annual $40 fee. A similar plan with an $85 annual fee was rejected in February.

The county also is considering a countywide millage of 0.2 mills to pay for the service.

While no public hearing is required for that plan, both will be up for discussion Monday night, County Judge Bob Clinard said. Public input is important since the justices of the peace haven't yet made a decision, Clinard said. The Quorum Court will decide at the July 24 meeting.

"We want people to be able to ask questions and express their thoughts as we decide how to move forward," Clinard said. "It's not a done deal. It's important to me that people come out. Not only those who are against it, but it's important that we hear from people who are for it."

Service to the unincorporated areas is provided by seven municipal fire departments and the Northeast Benton County Fire Department. State law requires an agreement between the cities and the county if municipal ambulance service is to be used outside the cities. Talks about the cost of ambulance service have been going on since 2009.

The county has paid the cities from its reserve in the past. The county has agreed to pay about $942,000 this year. The cost is expected to rise to about $1.1 million in 2015 and $1.2 million in 2016.

Mike Crandall, county accounting manager, estimated the $40 fee would raise about $527,868. A millage levy of 0.2 mills would raise about $833,981, Crandall estimates. Revenue from either source would be dedicated to pay for rural ambulance service only.

Susan Anglin of District 9 said she's skeptical either plan will garner much support, but she thinks the EMS District has the best chance of passing. Anglin said she's heard little from constituents about either plan.

"Anytime it comes up in conversation I don't hear anyone saying they think it will pass," she said. "I don't think people are going to vote to tax themselves any more. The people out here, they feel like they contribute to the cities and they do not understand why they have this extra cost is being placed on them."

Changes to the EMS district plan after the February vote might give it a better chance, Anglin said. She doesn't see any support for a millage that would be collected from city and county residents alike. She's also uncertain about the idea of sending both plans for a vote in November. George Spence, county attorney, has told the Quorum Court both plans could be submitted for a vote, and if both passed the county would collect the revenue from each of them.

"In some ways I think it might be better to let the voter choose from both of them, then I think that may just cause more confusion," Anglin said. "I don't feel I can support the countywide millage. I will support the fee before I support the millage because we've done a lot of work since the special election. We've listened to what the people said and we've made changes to try and work with that."

Barry Moehring of District 15 has posted information about the hearing on his Facebook page. And he's spoken about the issue to various business groups and with constituents. He said he's gotten very little input from the public.

"It's a significant issue and we have a proposal out there that could affect everybody in the county," Moehring said.

Moehring said he wants to go through the process, including the public hearing, before committing himself to any course of action. The hearing and the Quorum Court's decision to seek a vote in November won't be the end of the task, he said.

"Benton County, as an entity, has a obligation to educate voters on the issue," he said. "As a county, we need to do a better job of that than we did in January and February."

Patrick Carr of District 12 said he hopes people will attend Monday night's meeting, but he's not encouraged by the response he's gotten from constituents.

"I've not had one phone call," he said.

The county has to act to get permanent funding for rural ambulance service, Carr said.

"We've got to do something and see where it goes," he said. "We've got to do something."

NW News on 07/13/2014