Ambulance district meeting draws fewer than group expected

The Friends of Cape Girardeau County Ambulance District had anticipated seeing nearly 150 people at Thursday's meeting. Fewer than 30 showed, but three candidates for Cape Girardeau County Commission were among them.

Marvin McMillan, a former firefighter campaigning as a Democrat for the 1st District commission seat held by Larry Bock, said he was not surprised by the low turnout at New McKendree United Methodist Church's south campus in Jackson.

"People don't worry about emergency services until it affects their lives," he said.

Friends of Cape Girardeau County Ambulance District — made up of Randy and Carla Everett, Barbara Mueller and Ron Kiplinger — held the meeting to encourage people to sign a petition to get the issue on a 2009 ballot. The group needs about 3,700 signatures.

The meeting proceeded with a slide presentation and a question-and-answer period.

McMillan's opponent for the commission seat, Republican Paul Koeper, said he was impressed with the group's proposal and supported the idea of a countywide ambulance district.

"Why wouldn't we want something as great as an ambulance service?" he said. Then he asked the petition drive organizers how they could ask for a tax during an economic crisis. "It's going to be a tough sell," he said.

Randy Everett quickly agreed.

"But there is never a good time for a tax," he said.

"I don't think you can put a price tag on this. If we don't have something better than what we have ... I don't think we can put a price tag on a loved one's life," Mueller said.

If a district were approved, property taxes in the amount of 30 cents per $100 assessed valuation would be initially used to finance the change, which the group estimates would raise $2.8 million. But the law allows districts to covert to a sales tax funding base. In August, a Franklin County service, the Washington Area Ambulance District, dropped its property tax in exchange for a sales tax.

Randy Everett teaches paramedic and emergency medical technician classes for the Cape Girardeau School District, Carl Everett and Barbara Mueller are registered nurses. Kiplinger is a paramedic and respiratory therapist who volunteers for the Gordonville Fire Department; works part time for Saint Francis Medical Center and for the Jackson Fire Department.

Everett said he worked on forming North Scott County Ambulance District in the late 1980s and later managed it. He also worked for Perry County's hospital-based ambulance service. He said he is close to retirement and not interested in working for another ambulance service, though "I would love to get elected on the board so our vision continues, that it is going to be high-quality and good service. But that's not a paid position."

Members of the Friends of Cape Girardeau County Ambulance District said they are hoping voters can decide the issue in April. If that happens, Kiplinger said, a board of directors could be elected in June and proceed with formulating the district. He said the property taxes needed to support the service would not likely go into effect for nearly nine months.

Second District Commissioner Jay Purcell suggested the group consider benchmarking districts in similar Missouri counties to identify costs and best practices. Everett said he would look into it.

Candidate Rock Finch did not attend the meeting; his campaign manager, Mike Woelk, did. Woelk said an ambulance district is "certainly something Cape Girardeau County commissioners need to look at."

McMillan said it's much more than that. He said emergency services are a critical component of county services as well as an important foundation for disaster readiness. He signed the petition before leaving the meeting. He said regardless of the outcome of November's election, he plans to vote "yes" if the ambulance district question makes the ballot. If he is elected, he said, emergency services will be a priority.

"It's not all about roads and bridges," he said.

Dr. John Russell, president and principal owner of Cape County Private Ambulance Service Inc. for 25 years, did not attend the meeting. His company has had an exclusive contract with Cape Girardeau County since 1968.

He said the $225,000 annual contract with the county represents "well under 10 percent" of his company's income. Response times, he said, meet the county contract parameters of 10 minutes 90 percent of the time in Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

"Yes, a vote on a tax district would impact my business and my business' position," he said. "But if taxpayers of the county decided they want to substantially increase their taxes and put that into operation, that's really their decision. It may or may not change what we do and who we contract with and so forth. I'm taking a wait-and-see position on it."

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127

Were you there?

Does this affect you?

Have a comment?

Log on to semissourian.com/today