Nicky Boyette – After a 30-minute executive session and wading through a resolution and seven appropriation ordinances – one of them five-and-a-half pages long read in its entirety, the Carroll County Quorum Court got to a discussion at Monday’s meeting regarding the ongoing struggle to establish an ambulance district for the eastern side of the county.
Justice of the Peace Lamont Richie mentioned he was surprised to see in a newspaper an ad asking for Requests for Proposals for an ambulance service in the eastern district. He had missed the February meeting when JPs voted to authorize the Citizens Advisory Committee to advertise for RFPs. He wondered if those who might respond to the ad knew the specifications of the service they were applying to procure or where to find them.
JP Larry Swofford explained the court just wanted feedback on what companies would expect as compensation for their services. Green Forest Mayor Charlie Reece told the court he had the specifications available in his office and agreed to redo the ad to make it clear where interested parties could get the specs.
Reece said he was not going to let eastern county residents go without ambulance service after Mercy Ambulance stops its service later this month. There will be a gap of several months before an official ambulance district for the eastern part of the county can be established, but Reece said in the meantime, Ozark EMS, which has been sharing ambulance duties with Mercy, would be allowed to use the Green Forest Fire Department to house vehicles. He said he had spoken with other ambulance companies, as well.
JP John Reeve explained the process for establishing the ambulance district for the court again. To find out what it would cost to finance an ambulance service, the court was sending out the RFPs. Once the information was received, JPs could determine if a millage would be required to pay for the service. The millage would apply only to parts of the county served by the new ambulance district.
Then the court would need to pass an ordinance establishing the ambulance district. If a millage were required, it would be written into the ordinance. If the ordinance were approved, voters affected by the ordinance would still need to vote their approval of the millage, the amount of which is still to be determined.
The court could then put out a request for bids to get a company to sign a binding contract.
JPs and ambulance providers at the meeting agreed that reviewing specs would determine the cost a provider would build into a bid, thereby determining whether a millage would be required.
In closing comments, County Judge Sam Barr said he was not against establishing an ambulance district, but has heard from many citizens who do not want to pay a tax to support one. He also said he thought it was his call what kind of ambulance service was provided, and he was pleased with the performance of Ozark EMS and owner Leon Cheatham.
He told the court they were the ones who authorized the ad calling for RFPs, but responses were directed to him although he had not asked for them. JPs should have received the responses.
Barr also said it was good to see the court trying to correct something they thought he was doing wrong, but commented, “As far as I’m concerned, it’s Leon’s call if he wants to do it as long as he does a good job.”
This discussion was not on the agenda.
Court decisions
JPs retired into executive session and met as the Grievance Committee to consider a request they hold a grievance hearing. Upon reconvening, JPs voted 11-0 to deny the request to hold the hearing.
JPs unanimously approved seven appropriation ordinances and a resolution.
- Grant funds in the amount of $5,000 from the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District were appropriated to the County Office of Emergency Management.
- The sum of $8,400 granted by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission was awarded to the Grassy Knob Fire Department as part of a 50-50 grant for the purchase of a fire boat to protect the shoreline and marinas.
- JPs appropriated $212,000 for the purchase of the property housing the Prosecuting Attorney’s office.
- The court established a Detention Center Capital Project Fund and transferred $100,000 into the fund. This fund will be distinct from the capital project fund for Central Dispatch.
- JPs then renamed the Detention Center/Central Dispatch Capital Project Fund as the Central Dispatch Capital Fund and appropriated $150,000 to fund it.
- JPs approved the “clean-up” appropriation ordinance amending the 2015 budget. The ordinance was comprised of 37 sections over five and one-half pages. Various amounts from $.02 to as much as $17,013.04 were transferred within departments from one line item to another to balance individual ledgers.
- Another ordinance appropriated an additional $4,208.67 which was spread among five departments.
- JPs approved a resolution requesting and authorizing the County Judge “to pursue a contract with the Harris Corporation for upgrades to the radio portion of Central Dispatch at a cost of no more than $239,880.” The contract would include financing over five years at a rate of not more than 2.69 percent. The first payment would be during 2017, so it would be included in that year’s budget.
Richie explained that in addition to upgrading equipment, the county has applied to relocate the Central Dispatch operation to a part of the County Detention Facility once plans for remodeling a space there have been approved by the state. Richie stated, however, that even if the state does not approve the relocation plans, upgrades of equipment would still occur and the operation would remain at the courthouse.
Next meeting will be Monday, April 18, at 5 p.m.