BENTONVILLE -- Benton County officials still are working to ensure ambulance service to all of the county's rural residents even after voters in November approved a property tax to help pay for it.
The county has to replace Springdale as one of the ambulance services responding to calls in the unincorporated areas of the county. Springdale has said Jan. 1, 2016, its ambulance service no longer will respond to calls outside the city.
Rural Ambulance Service
Benton County residents who live in unincorporated areas of the county receive ambulance service from seven municipal fire departments — Bella Vista, Bentonville, Gravette, Pea Ridge, Rogers, Siloam Springs and Springdale — and the Northeast Benton County Fire Department’s ambulance service. The county has agreed to pay the cities about $1.2 million annually for the cost of their service and will provide NEBCO with some financial support.
Source: Staff Report
Marshal Watson, the county's emergency services administrator, told the Public Safety Committee last week the county hasn't yet found a replacement.
County Judge Bob Clinard said the county will explore several options to serve the area in the southern part of the county now served by Springdale. County officials are talking with Lowell as that city works to establish its ambulance service. The county also has contacted Central Emergency Medical Services, which provides ambulance service for most of Washington County, Clinard said.
Clinard said the county will monitor the work of smaller cities, including Elm Springs, Johnson and Tontitown, that also are looking at ways to replace the service provided by Springdale.
Brent Meyers is justice of the peace for District 14, which includes the largest part of the county now served by Springdale's ambulance service. Meyers has heard from constituents about the uncertain future of the service. He would like to see something settled as soon as possible.
"I am personally very concerned," Meyers said. "Things are very up in the air and we're running out of time. Right now, there's nothing."
Meyers thinks the county has taken on an obligation to county residents after obtaining their approval of a property tax with the revenue dedicated to paying the costs of rural ambulance service.
"We put on the ballot that you will have the availability of an ambulance in the rural areas," Meyers said. "The voters approved that and I think we've got to have coverage. The citizens are paying for that coverage."
Lowell Mayor Eldon Long said his city's work on its own ambulance service is proceeding. The target for having an ambulance in service is January 2016, he said. Long will work with Springdale officials to ensure coverage if Lowell's plans are delayed.
Tom Allen is justice of the peace for District 4, which includes some of the area now served by Springdale. Allen plans to ask for regular updates on the situation until it's resolved. Allen's hope is the county can partner with Lowell or another entity to provide the service and not have to consider a county-owned and operated system.
"Hopefully, that's going to be the case," Allen said of working with Lowell. "I don't think we're there yet, personally, on having a county service. I think it's still too costly."
While Springdale set a Jan. 1 deadline for ending service, Fire Chief Mike Irwin said the city isn't going to leave anyone without emergency service. The smaller cities and the county need to understand providing the service is their responsibility, he said.
"We're not going to just cut anyone off," Irwin said. "It's one of those things where we had to give them a deadline or it was never going to happen."
Long and Clinard said they will continue to discuss ambulance service. Long says his city is willing to work with the county.
"Certainly we are open to trying to figure out what's best for the city as well as the county," Long said.
NW News on 02/01/2015