Consider funding
I am a resident of the unincorporated area of Benton County (Garfield), so I have been watching with interest the funding proposals for rural ambulance service. Several years ago, with much foresight, the Northeast Benton County Volunteer Fire Department (NEBCO) and the Volunteer Ambulance Service (VAS) merged and formed the Northeast Benton County Fire & EMS District. This was not an easy undertaking and many hours of planning, research and community meetings were expended. Eventually, with the approval of the affected residents, the district was formed with a $100/year fee included on the county property tax statement. Ambulance service was also upgraded from Basic Life Support (BLS) to Advanced Life Support (ALS) -- a significant step forward. Since then, under the leadership of a competent board of directors and fire chief, the district has functioned admirably.
Having said all this, I want no part of whatever Benton County decides to put together. I will support a millage increase ONLY if we in the NEBCO Fire & EMS District are excluded. As the saying, "If it's not broken, don't fix it," goes -- this certainly applies to NEBCO. Today, we have local control over what happens in our district and based on what I've seen over the years happening at the county level, I don't want to relinquish control to the Quorum Court or county judge. I have very little confidence in either of them.
The rural ambulance service issue needs to be resolved. Just leave us in the NEBCO Fire & EMS service area out of the equation.
Pete RathmellGarfield, Ark.
Editorial on 05/21/2014