HomeMy WebLinkAbout85 0502 minCity Council Special
May 2, 1985
~ ~-~onference Bnom
City Hall
MIRU~S
Present were Councilmsmbers: Barbara Dorman, Junior Brown, and
Bobby James. Absent were: Mayor Bidlehuber and Councilmembers Tom Aday
and Andy Taylor.
Also present were: County Judge Bill Hollars and County
Cc~issioD~rs, James Belk, Henry B~if, Hc~er Roberson and Pon Morris.
Also present were City Manager Jim Jeffers and Richard Orr.
In making opening remarks Bobby Jam~s noted that it would cost the
City approximately $60,000 per year in subsidies to keep what it
currently has. He stated that he felt that the prudent action for the
City was to explore the alternatives and he stated that it was the
consensus of the City Council that basic life support was no longer
adequate for a City the size of Pla/nview.
Cc~mnissioner Belk noted that it w-as tb~ consensus of the County
Commission that ~vanced Life Support was an acceptable level of service
but he also advised that it was the consensus of the Cc~nission that
they were opposed to the Fire Department operating the Ambulance Service
because of potential political problems between the City and County.
Belk added that it was the consensus of the Commission that the
Ambulance Service should continue with the existing organization for it
was a "cheaper service."
Bobby James noted that if a private citizen could operate the
ambulance service and "make a profit," then the City, with proper
management, could do the same and since the City would not be concerned
about a "profit" then it is conceivable that the City could operate the
ambulance for less dollars. James added that if the County was
concerned about coming to the City to discuss problems about the
ambulance service then they should consider operating the ambulance
service themselves and the City would then cc~e to the County if there
were problems.
Commissioner Pon Morris added that on the dollars alone he would
prefer that Plainview EMS continue to operate the ambulance service and
he also emphasized that he had no problem with the existing services
being provided by P lainview EMS.
In response to Co~missioner Morris ~ts, Councilmember Dorman
pointed that cheapest does not necessarily mean the best.
Bobby James pointed out that frcm a business standpoint that b2
felt "very cc~fortable" with the Fire Department running the ambulance
service and he added that he felt that it was not fair for the City and
County to split the subsidy on a 50/50 basis and possibly the County
should have a cap set on its contribution.
In response to specifically what was expected of the County, Bobby
James advised that $20,000 per year, utilized to offset capital
investn~nt, may be an appropriate contribution.
James Belk noted that only 6% of the calls were outside of tb~ City
limits and that the Cc~mission was considering contributing around 10%
of the total requested subsidy.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
,./JIM-~, C&~y Manager