BENTONVILLE - Benton County’s discussion of how best to provide rural ambulance service is proceeding, but is far from over, officials said Friday.
Kurt Moore, justice of the peace for District 13, said he’s satisfied the county is making progress, but said he plans to push to keep the issue alive until some solution is reached.
“I don’t think anybody’s really happy with the setup we have now where the county judge has to negotiate with the cities every year on the best rates,” Moore said. “When the pan boils dry, I think we’ll end up with some kind of hybrid system with the county working with some of the current providers to cover some areas and operating its own system in other areas.”
The county has worked with the eight fire departments - Bella Vista, Bentonville, Gravette, Northeast Benton County Fire Department, Pea Ridge, Rogers, Siloam Springs and Springdale - that provide rural ambulance service to determine an acceptable reimbursement for the service.
The county spent $100,000 in 2011, $150,000 in 2012 and $300,000 for 2013, dividing the money among the departments according to the numbers of calls the departments responded to. The county has reached tentative agreements with six departments for 2014, with money for Pea Ridge and NEBCO still pending, and has agreed to work on a formula to use in 2015 and beyond.
Pea Ridge Fire Chief Frank Rizzio said he plans to attend the next county Finance Committee meeting and was unable to attend either the June or July meeting.
“I plan to attend the Aug. 6 meeting and talk to them,” Rizzio said. He said it costs Pea Ridge Fire/ EMS about $440 per ambulance call. Pea Ridge received $11,000 in 2012 and $7,800 in 2011. Rizzio said county calls (to addresses outside the city limits but within the ambulance district) account for 28.4 percent of the EMS calls.
The Committee of the Whole discussed ambulance service options, including a county-operated system, for about two hours Tuesday and left the topic on the agenda for the Aug.
13 meeting. The Finance Committee has recommended paying six of the eight fire departments that provide service for 2014 and is set to discuss funding for Pea Ridge and the Northeast Benton County Fire Department’s service when the panel meets Aug. 6.
Requests for those two were delayed when the justices of the peace asked for more information on Pea Ridge’s plans to upgrade its service.
Community, Pages 6 on 07/17/2013