NEBCO, VAS talk merger

Two emergency agencies consider options

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

— Recognizing that there are many legal questions to answer and logistics to address, board members of VAS Ambulance Service Corporation and the Northeast Benton County Volunteer Ambulance Service each expressed an unofficial commitment to merge when meeting in the Garfield community room Thursday night.

Benton County Judge Dave Bisbee said the Quorum Court Finance Committee approved the county’s legal advisor to counsel the two groups on the merger.

“He’s not your attorney,” Bisbee said, “but he’s going to help you get this ironed out.

“You can change your bylaws, but you can’t change what the people voted on. Make sure you dovetail that first,” Bisbee said.

The two organizations are both non-profit and derive their funds from the public. Cris Jones, a NEBCO board member, is alsothe certified public accountant for VAS.

“I’m committed to the two organizations coming together in the best way possible. If it takes time, let’s look at it. Let’s not rush into it. Let’s be sure and cover all the bases,” Jones said.

Elizabeth Bowen, NEBCO board member, said: “I’m also committed, but have very big concerns about the dollars.”

Rob Taylor, NEBCO fire chief, said he had talked to the Arkansas Health Department, which licenses ambulance services.

“To simplify it, the transition could happen today if both boards agree. We couldn’t change the level of service or the name, but we could notify the state and let them know the change of address and who the responsible people are ... June is when the license is due,” Taylor said. “That would be an ideal time to make changes.”

“Right now it’s an issue of when do the boards want to start. What is the first step... gradually growing together,” Taylor said.

The Emergency Services District for VAS covers geographical territory covered by both NEBCO and Avoca fire departments and is funded with $40 annual dues collected on the real estate property tax statements.

Taxation without representation, queried Cris Henry, asking about someone from Avoca serving on the board, adding that the city of Avoca had approved paying for training of an emergency medical personnel.

Citing payroll as the largest expense for VAS, Cris Henry, VAS board member, said federal labor laws allow more leeway for a fire department than for an ambulance service.

Several board members identified the need to upgrade the basic life support ambulance to advance life support.

“We want the best service for the bang of the buck and that’s what we all want for our community.

We have to be in the fire service to that. That’s the biggest part of our budget,” Henry said.

“These citizens out there, they’ve been paying for ALS for some time. We need to work at giving that to them,” Taylor said.

The group agreed that treasurers of both boards would meet with Rob Taylor, who would be the operations manager, to discuss the finances of the two corporations.

News, Pages 1 on 04/14/2010