Ambulance Tax tops Carmi Council meeting
Adam Allen, director of the White County Ambulance Service spoke at length to the Carmi City Council during it’s first September meeting Tuesday night.
Allen explained that when he assumed the director’s position, the ambulance service was about $182,000 in the red. Over the past two years, the service has been able to climb back into the black in the amount of $60,000. He explained the ambulance service recently lost its Advanced Life Support and downgraded to Basic Life Support. He said that basically means paramedics are not able to do their job properly. Allen explained the tax will help recruit paramedics and increase the pay of the ambulance staff;
Allen, who spoke to the council for a little over 30 minutues, answered a number of questions and concerns of both local citizens, who attended the meeting and alderman. The bottom line according to Allen this is a life and death situation, as without ambulance service, the time to reach a hospital could be deadly. Mayor Jeff Pollard pointed out that it would be more than just Carmi and county residents paying the safety tax, as money spent at local businesses will help fund the tax. He urged everyone to shop local.
In other council business, the alderman approved accepting a low bid of just over $48,000 for the Epworth Road project. Mayor Jeff Pollard explained the project will basically alleviate standing water that often occurs on the roadway in east Carmi.
A resolution of support and commitment of local funds from the revolving loan fund was approved. That basically covers the recent state mandated close of all partner loan programs with municipalities.
In other business, Mayor Pollard said the Halloween camp-out at Burrells Wood will be held October 26 and 27. He indicated additional details on the outing would be forthcoming. Pollard also said the new railing is in at the Burrells woods, accessing the new property.
