NEBCO-VAS merger successful

GARFIELD -- Personally and professionally, Rob Taylor knows the value of an ambulance service to the rural areas in northeast Benton County -- around Garfield, Gateway and the north of Beaver Lake.

"This is my home, my community. I want to do everything I can ... I've lived here all my life. Everything I've ever heard from here is that if you want what Rogers has, move to Rogers," Taylor said. "Why? If we want to pay for it, why can't we have the same service?"

Taylor, fire chief at Northeast Benton County Fire/EMS Department, grew up in the Garfield area. He remembers when father died in 1972, when Taylor was just 17.

"There was no ambulance," he said matter-of-factly.

On April 9, 1986, Taylor's first wife, Stacy had a horrendous wreck at the intersection of Wimpy Jones Road and U.S. Highway 62 just north of Station 1. The ambulance had to come from Rogers, he said.

"People retire out here to live on the lake. They don't want to work their whole life, retire and live a great life to get too old to have to move to town town because they need an ambulance."

Taylor was instrumental in NEBCO's acquisition of the Volunteer Ambulance Service of Benton County five years ago.

"We have gained so many supporters," said Kara Funk, chairman of NEBCO board of directors.

"It's been five years this July," Taylor said recalling NEBCO taking on VAS. "What a ride!"

"Some who originally had questions have come back to us saying they weren't sure originally, but are delighted now," Funk said, adding that the advanced-life-support ambulance service provided by NEBCO has far exceeded everyone's expectations. VAS operated a basic-life-support service.

Taylor recalled his own fears.

"If we want back, I'd have thought there was no way we could be here now. We have two brand new ambulances, brand new equipment on both and support from the people," Taylor said. "I'll have to say, NEBCO did what we said we would do and we're continuing to improve."

Taylor said he and his staff are always looking for ways to improve the service. He has full-time staff with four people on staff at least three days a week.

"We could not have done this if the people hadn't voted in the increase," Taylor said, referring to the special election in 2013 when residents of the emergency medical district approved increasing annual dues.

When NEBCO first acquired the ambulance service previously operating as Volunteer Ambulance Service (VAS) of Northeast Benton County, annual dues were $40 per property. NEBCO officials agreed to operate for at least one year on that amount to determine the need, according to Andy Driggs, with NEBCO. In 2013, residents of the EMS district approved the increase.

"And, the members of the Quorum Court have been very sensitive to our needs," Funk said.

Members of the community donate funds, attend fundraising events, pay their memberships.

"I feel they're very proud," Taylor said.

"I appreciate all the paramedics from Rogers who have worked out here to make this happen," Taylor, also a captain with the Rogers Fire Department, said. "They are dedicated signing up to work out here on their days off from Rogers."

"If we didn't have that link," Funk said, "we couldn't have done it."

Taylor has been with the Rogers Fire Department for 15 years; he's been NEBCO's chief since 2002.

"His (Taylor's) experience from being on the Rogers Fire Department has been of tremendous benefit to us," Funk said, "whether it's spec'ing out a truck or putting together a schedule. He is a professional at what he does. That makes a whole lot of difference.

"Believe me, he's always got a plan and he's always got his want list," she said.

"He has a passion for his community. You just don't see that very often," Funk said.

State Sen. Cecile Bledsoe said: "I feel they're providing a very important service; they do an excellent job. They aim for excellence in everything they do."

Bledsoe recently provided a $50,000 grant from the state's General Improvement Fund to help purchase a new rescue truck that carries extrication equipment that is of vast benefit on motor-vehicle crash incidents. The remainder of the money for the truck was received from an anonymous donor, Funk said.