Ambulance Contract Approved With Benton County

Officials Considering Ending Calls Outside City

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

— The City Council approved a contract Tuesday to provide ambulance service to rural Benton County, a service the city has provided for years the Fire Department would like to see end.

"The only city service that goes outside the city limits is ambulance," said Mike Irwin, fire chief. "The Street Department doesn't go into the county. The Police Department doesn't respond into the county, not on a regular basis."

AT A GLANCE

Council Action

Springdale’s City Council met Tuesday and approved:

• Rezoning 5.2 acres at Elm Springs and Oak Grove roads owned by Steenbergen Family from general commercial to thoroughfare commercial; rezoning 1 acre at 1503 Carley Road owned by Jimmy and Mary Allred from neighborhood office to general commercial

• Amending requirements for the zoning ordinance to adjust parking spaces for new businesses

• On-call pay for the fire marshal and a backup battalion chief at a cost of $5,475

• A contract for mutual aid with the Lowell Fire Department

• A construction management contract for three fire stations with Commerce Construction Co.

Source: Staff Report

The Fire Department is investigating, Irwin said, ending regular ambulance service outside the city. The Springdale Fire Department provides emergency medical response to rural areas in Benton and Washington counties, as well as Bethel Heights, Lowell, Elm Springs, Tontitown and a section of Johnson.

A growing call volume would require the adding of another ambulance to the city or reduce the coverage area, Irwin said.

"We don't have the money to add an ambulance," Irwin said. "We're exploring whoever or however ambulance service could be provided and not leave anyone uncovered."

Springdale took over the ambulance service from funeral homes in 1968, said Kevin McDonald, assistant chief. About 20 years ago, Washington County started subsidizing Springdale for ambulance service, he said.

In 2009, Bethel Heights and Lowell started paying Springdale for ambulance service. Benton County began its payment to the city in 2011.

"We've been specific with Benton County that there would be no more free rides," said Mike Overton, alderman.

The contract will pay the city $68,744 for 2014. It paid $30,000 in 2013, $12,682 in 2012 and $9,721 in 2011.

Each government pays a percentage of the cost of Springdale's ambulance service based calls to that area, Irwin said. Benton County residents voted in February against a fee to pay the seven ambulance providers in the county.

"That really wasn't the reason we are trying to end our service outside the city," Irwin said. "We've been looking at this for several years."

The current system wasn't working well for the rural residents, Irwin said.

"Our response times were not acceptable," Irwin said. "It wasn't the best for patient care."

Jonathan Periodin, a resident of the city, said he wasn't interested in the politics of ambulance service.

"I just want my father-in-law to get ambulance service if he needs it," Periodin said.

Periodin's father-in-law lives in rural Benton County, near Beaver Lake.

Springdale would always respond to mutual aid outside the city, said Mayor Doug Sprouse, when large events create a situation where additional help is needed. The goal is to keep normal responses inside the city.

"We'd prefer to peel back to the city," Sprouse said. "But we don't want to leave anyone high and dry."

NW News on 03/26/2014