GARFIELD — Evaluating the legal aspects faced by a merger, members of the two boards of directors for emergency services in northeast Benton County have met repeatedly with George Spence, the county attorney.
The results of those meetings are being communicated to the two boards as a whole in joint meetings.
Contemplating a contract for services for the short term inpreparation of the ultimate merger, members of the two boards - VAS Ambulance Service Corp.
and Northeast Benton County Volunteer Fire Department - met May 6 to discuss the contract line by line. The VAS board met for a regular board meeting May 11.
Another joint meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday in the Garfield community room.
Members of the two boards discussed the logistics and legalitiesof the merger. NEBCO chairman Kara Funk said meetings with Spence had been helpful.
One point being discussed is whether members of the Emergency Services District (EMSD) can be charged the additional costs for ambulance runs above the costs paid by insurance companies. Initially, the Volunteer Ambulance Service of Northeast Benton County, did not charge above the insurance payment. Once a new board was elected and the company’s name changed to VAS Ambulance Service Corporation, the board decided to bill all customers.
“The county attorney does not believe we should do that,” Kara Funk said.
Elizabeth Bowen, NEBCO board member, said the by-laws of VAS, prohibit that billing.
Other items discussed include employees, the name of the ambulance and representation for Avoca, which is a part of the VAS EMSD.
Tanya Lewis, the justice of the peace for District 1 representing the district, said an ordinance can be read separately for three different months or can be rushed through the Quorum Court by having all three readings in the same meeting.
NEBCO Fire Chief Rob Taylor, after working with Cris Jones, a NEBCO board member and the accountant for VAS, that if the merger occurred now and the ambulance continued to operate as a basic life service, the combined company could save $4,000 versus the $21,080 in the red currently on VAS books.
“If you were to merge today, this is where we could really save the money,” Taylor said, speaking of salaries, adding that upgrading to an advanced life support ambulance service would allow he company to charge the ALS rates as well.
Taylor said he was prepared to begin the paper work with the state healthdepartment for the merger as well as the upgrade to advanced life support, when authorized.
What to do with assets, including a building constructed on land owned by Richard Hurd, was discussed. The building is a point of contention as Hurd, a founder of VAS, says it was to revert to him if the service were no longer a volunteer organization. Funk said Spence is aware of the problem.
“The attorney is comfortable with it. He’s protecting both boards. We’re tried to look at every direction,” Funk said. “What we do here with these two boards is to provide the community a service that everyone deserves. Trust does enter into it.
“He’s not working for either board, he’s working forthe county judge, the quorum court that represents the people ... he’s guiding us through the logistics, guaranteeing it works for the people.”
Avoca Mayor Tommy O’Dell was present.
Tony Miltich, a former VAS board member, said he wanted to see a representative from Avoca on the board. He said Avoca is half of the population of the EMSD area.
VAS plans a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. today (Wednesday, May 19) to discuss personnel and one at 6 p.m. with NEBCO in the Garfield community room.
News, Pages 1 on 05/19/2010