Commission gradually moves forward with ambulance
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A bare ambulance originally parked outside the E-911 building in Rockford was moved and parked by the county courthouse prior to the County Commission meeting last Tuesday evening. The commission took action during that meeting to begin moving forward with the countywide ambulance service. Photo by Christa Jennings
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
During a lengthy and well-attended meeting last Tuesday evening, after much discussion the County Commission took action to move forward with matters relating to the countywide ambulance service that has been in the works for many months.
All commissioners were present for the meeting. Other elected officials in attendance included Alabama Rep. Ed Oliver, Circuit Judge David Law, Revenue Commissioner Debra Lamberth, Coroner Jack Brewer, Judge of Probate Richard Dean, and Superintendent of Education David Stover.
In an unusual turn of events, the commission spent more than an hour under public comment. Kevin Adair was on the agenda under public comment regarding Lounge on U.S. Highway 280, but was not present to speak.
Commission Chair Randall Dunham then opened the floor for any public comments from any individuals not on the agenda. Numerous attendees took that opportunity to address the commission with questions and concerns relating to the ongoing discussion of the proposed countywide ambulance service.
Stephen Lowery, assistant fire chief with Weogufka Volunteer Fire Department, asked for an update on the ambulance and for the commission to clarify misinformation that he said had been spread. He stated that the longer it takes the more they risk having more people die.
Lowery said that he is thankful for Kellyton and Goodwater, the only two ambulance services in the county and both volunteer, but said that they “cannot do it all.”
Ultimately Lowery said that he just wanted to know what is taking so long and where they stand regarding the ambulance service.
Earlier that day a Ford E-350 Osage Ambulance from Southeastern Specialty Vehicles was parked in the E-911 building parking lot. The bare ambulance was later moved and parked by the county courthouse prior to the commission meeting.
During further public comment at the meeting, Jodi McDade mentioned that “the ambulance is here,” noting that that was a “huge step” and “great progress.” However, she asked who signed the contract for the ambulance and if that individual had authority from the commission to do so.
Commissioner Ronnie Joiner stated that at that time the ambulance did not belong to Coosa County, adding that it was a Goodwater ambulance. He reviewed the information and history of the matter, adding that the ambulance was ordered prematurely.
Joiner stated that he thought the grant was going to get an ambulance for Rockford, but that it did not.
In further discussion, Joiner said that Goodwater and Kellyton do “an outstanding job,” but described the situation as a health crises and said that he wants to make it safer for citizens.
He added that the commission approved matching funds for a rescue truck for Kellyton, but said that the ambulance needs to be located on the west side of the county since Kellyton and Goodwater are both located in the northeastern area of the county.
In the end, Joiner said that they put the cart before the horse. He said that the proposed countywide ambulance service will not work unless people want it and support it, mentioning his idea for a proposed tag fee to help fund the ambulance service.
Joiner mentioned that the people who died when an ambulance was not available may have died anyway, but that an ambulance would help and may have given those people a better chance.
During ongoing discussion, county attorney John K. Johnson mentioned the rescue truck for Kellyton and the county paying the 25% match to meet the grant requirements, adding that the commission has that ironed out already. However, he said the ambulance is a “whole other situation.”
Johnson said that Goodwater and Kellyton do a great job, but that “nothing is really gained” if the ambulance is not stationed in the middle or west side of the county. He further stated that the “whole idea” of the countywide ambulance and what Rep. Oliver tried to help the county with was getting a grant “for an ambulance in Rockford, to operate out of Rockford with paramedics in Rockford.”
Johnson further mentioned that the county can establish a Coosa EMS group to oversee and maintain the ambulance once it gets to that point. However, he said that they will need income to pay the paramedics.
In further discussion regarding the proposed tag fee, it was stated that if the fee was $12 per tag it would generate approximately $200,000. It was also stated that it will cost approximately $200,000 to $300,000 per year to staff and supply the ambulance.
It was further stated that the county currently has $1.35 million in COVID-19 funds. The county is awaiting clarification on how those funds can be spent, but it was suggested that the funds could potentially be a jump start for the ambulance service and that it could “get the ball rolling much sooner.”
Also in discussion, it was stated that the countywide ambulance would back up Goodwater and Kellyton, going all over the county like the other two do now, but that it would allow a faster response time for the west and south ends of the county.
In mentioning the next steps regarding a local act to consider the tag fee, Johnson said that the legislation would send the proposed local act to the commission for review, that it would be advertised in “The Coosa County News” for four weeks, be sent back to the state then back to the commission, and finally go to the public for a vote via the local referendum.
During discussion Chair Dunham told the crowd, “There is not a commissioner here who doesn’t want to help get this ambulance service.”
He added that in a year Kellyton Fire and Rescue spends approximately $100,000 to operate its ambulance with volunteers, according to Fire Chief Jerry Sewell.
Commissioner Unzell Kelley mentioned that he had talked with the Alabama Department of Public Health and others regarding the process for grant approval and the need to help underserved areas. He reviewed some history regarding the matter, including the county’s EMS committee that was formed to help look into the grant and gather information to present to the commission.
He mentioned that the grant was to procure funds for an ambulance service and that they want to have the countywide ambulance to support Goodwater and Kellyton with the services they provide.
Kelley added that in previous discussions, at the commission’s June meeting, Goodwater Fire Chief Elmore Unbehant had said that Goodwater would love to have an ambulance, but that it did not need it.
He further reviewed the process and information, adding that the commission can still honor what it previously voted on and approved. He said that the county can still take possession of the ambulance and hold it in Rockford until it can provide service for it.
Kelley said that he thinks the commission can still accomplish what it set out to do and that they can move forward. He stated that the key thing is sustaining it and that they have to look at funding sources.
Chuck Bradley, a member of the audience, spoke up saying that the ambulance is currently just sitting there and asked what is next if the funding fails.
It was further stated that an ambulance just sitting there was not doing anyone any good.
In further discussion regarding the ambulance and information, Dunham stated that he is the chairman of the commission and that he has not signed any paperwork relating to the ambulance.
Mallory Whitley spoke up from the crowd saying that she also had a question about the ambulance sitting there and asked if it is paid for. She stated that she will soon be moving back to Rockford and is concerned, asking if they need medical assistance if they have to use a privately owned vehicle.
Ultimately, Whitley asked the commission if the ambulance is just wasted.
Rep. Oliver explained that the ambulance is going to sit there until they have people to run it. He stated that no one wants an ambulance just sitting there and said there are things to consider and that the commission is going to have to make some decisions.
Janice Kilgore, another attendee, asked about a timeline for when the vote would potentially be for the proposed tag fee. Oliver said that if the commission proceeded with that route that it could be on the primary ballot on May 24.
In ongoing discussion, Circuit Judge David Law spoke up from the judge’s bench asking who signed the contract and under what authority. He pointed out that Jodi McDade had asked the question, but that it went unanswered.
Dunham stated that he did not know and that as chairman he did not sign a contract.
After brief discussion, Law asked again which individual signed the contract. However, County Administrator Amy Gilliland said that the county does not have a contract, stating that they only had an award letter made out to Goodwater ambulance.
It was further stated that the ambulance is not titled to Goodwater and that it instead still belongs to the vendor as of last week’s meeting.
Commissioner Joiner reiterated the question and asked who on the commission signed it, but that was not made clear.
After more than an hour and with no other questions or discussions, the public comment portion of the meeting was closed, and the commission proceeded with action items from the agenda.
Additionally, with the ambulance parked outside the courthouse, the commission unanimously approved adding an agenda item regarding whether to buy or return the ambulance to the vendor.
The commission unanimously approved proceeding with the legislation and having Rep. Oliver do the necessary steps for an increase in tag vehicle fees to fund the ambulance services, with a $12 fee being placed on tags for that purpose.
With that matter being unanimously approved, it will now go through the legislative process as reviewed by attorney Johnson to be placed on the ballot next year for public vote.
Additionally, later in the meeting, regarding whether to proceed with buying the ambulance or returning it to the vendor, the commission voiced wanting to move forward with buying the ambulance. However, the commission also wanted further information to ensure the proper steps were being taken in the process.
Rep. Oliver called John Blue, president and CEO of East Alabama EMS, and put it on speaker phone so that Blue could explain to the commission what steps needed to be taken to be sure the entire process happened correctly this time.
Ultimately he said the commission needed to start from the beginning and vote to make application for the grant, as was previously done in June, but that it would need to apply for the grant under Coosa EMS for the ambulance for Coosa County.
He said the commission would also need to authorize paying the 25% match for the grant. The grant total would be $178,739.41, making the county’s match $44,684.85.
After discussion and talking with Blue via phone on the matter, the commission unanimously approved a motion to apply for the grant for the ambulance under Coosa EMS and also unanimously approved paying the required 25% match for the grant, with commissioners Joiner making the motion and Kelley seconding it.
In other business, the commission:
- Approved proceeding with the next legislative steps for Sunday alcohol sales within Coosa County, with Chair Dunham abstaining from voting on the matter.
- Unanimously approved clearing the lot on County Road 20 at the Equality Volunteer Fire Department for the department to build on, with the Highway Department clearing it at minimal cost to be paid by the fire department.
- Unanimously approved participating in the 2022 Severe Weather Preparedness Tax Holiday February 25-27.
- Unanimously approved to continue participation for the next three years in the ACCA Workers’ Compensation Self-Insured Fund.
- Unanimously approved entering into a memorandum of understanding to review census data and determine if the county needs to be redistricted.
During the meeting, Commissioner Kelley also brought up a 6 mill ad valorem tax for consideration. He stated that the cost of living has increased, but that the county is continuing to operate on revenue from 30-40 years ago.
Kelley further mentioned that the county needs additional funding for EMS services, education and law enforcement, as well as help with economic development and other needs.
He explained that if approved by the commission, it would then go to legislative reference and would then go to the public for a vote after going through the process.
With Kelley’s proposed 6 mills, he said that one mill would go to career tech and adult education, one mill to law enforcement, two mills to EMS services, one mill to the County Highway Department, half a mill to economic development, and half a mill to the commission’s General Fund.
In discussion, Revenue Commissioner Debra Lamberth said that 6 mills would equal approximately $1 million, meaning that one mill would be the equivalent of approximately $166,000.
She further mentioned that the millage rate would also affect tags and property taxes. Circuit Judge Law also spoke up and encouraged the commission to be mindful, saying that when two increases are on the ballot at the same time – in this case potentially the tag fee and the mill rate – that they both fail.
With the ad valorem tax resolution not available or on hand, the commission unanimously approved tabling that matter until its next meeting.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Coosa County Commission will be held at 9:30 a.m. December 14.
