Early in its April 17 meeting, the Carroll County Quorum Court was presented with a quandary. Geneice McCall said she lived 1.5 miles east of the Eureka Springs city limits, and asked if she would be served by the Eastern Ambulance District. She said she currently is taxed for both ambulance districts because apparently she has property on both sides of the boundary. She claimed it was not fair for western district people to pay for the eastern district ambulance service.
Justice of the Peace Jack Deaton commented he is part of a group looking into resolving just these kinds of issues related to the two ambulance districts, while JP Larry Swofford asserted it would be residency, not land ownership, that decides which service she pays taxes for. JP Chuck Olson chimed in that his understanding was the state statute said each voting district could decide to be in or out of an ambulance district.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Devon Still tried to clear things up. “You did not limit an ambulance district that serves only the eastern district,” she told them. “You created an ambulance district that serves the voting districts that are designated.” She pointed out the Kings River precinct happens to be in both the eastern and western districts. However, it is a state law that the precincts in a district must be connected and include the entire precinct. So, Still said, it would depend of McCall’s voting district to determine her ambulance service.
Doug Stroeml, administrator for Mercy Hospital in Berryville, then provided an update on the status of the hospital. He noted Mercy is a critical access hospital licensed for 25 beds with a 24-hour emergency room staffed with a physician at all times. Its range of specialties “to keep patients close to home” includes cardiology, nephrology, neurology, rheumatology and ophthalmology. He also mentioned Mercy’s community involvement by donating to local educational and community projects.
County business
JPs approved the following items:
- an appropriation ordinance moving $16,712 in insurance reimbursement for the total loss of a vehicle to the budget of the Sheriff’s Office;
- a supplemental ordinance added $7746.96 to the Veterans’ Service fund to cover expanding the hours of the staff member, and $858.75 to cover the salary of an employee in the collector’s office who picked up more hours;
- a supplemental ordinance Deaton referred to as a “clean-up ordinance like we do every year;”
- another supplemental ordinance which JP Lamont Richie said was to make sure all line items were properly funded; to accomplish that, JPs moved amounts of $29.70, $1320.83 and $495.25 from one line item to another in three different departments;
- the first reading of an ordinance which would amend the Personnel Handbook according to recommendations from the Personnel Committee; Richie said it also allows employees to more vacation time available sooner; he said the committee wanted to provide an incentive for employees since this year the county cannot offer a salary increase;
- approved the appointment of Steve Gerber to a five-year term on the Mundell Heights Estates Subordinate Service District.
Next meeting will be Monday, May 15, at 5 p.m.