County Passes Resolution To Make EMS 'Essential Services,' Appoints 12-member Advisory Council
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are now considered essential services in Mills County.
By a 2-0 vote at its regular meeting last Tuesday, June 3, county supervisors Richard Crouch and Jack Sayers passed the third and final reading of a resolution declaring EMS as essential services in Mills County. Supervisor and board chair Lonnie Mayberry was absent from the meeting.
Passage of the resolution gave the county supervisors the green light to appoint an EMS Advisory Council and putting a county-wide EMS tax levy on the ballot in November. State law allows counties to implement one or both of two funding options: a property tax levy of up to 75 cents per $1,000 taxable valuation or a 1% income surtax. The measure in November would require at least 60 percent approval from voters.
Crouch said he believes the levy is needed, noting the challenges rural communities face in recuiting volunteers to provide EMS services.
“Now, we’ve come to the point where we still have the same people in EMS having a lot of difficulty getting volunteers to step forward,” he said. “So, I think it’s very important we get this passed.”
The advisory council will make a recommendation on the services needed within the county and what the language, funding mechanism and dollar amount should be on the referendum put before voters in November.
If an EMS levy and /or income surtax is passed, the advisory council would be the board deciding how the funds are allocated.
On Tuesday, the supervisors appointed the following individuals to the advisory council: Matt Gray (representing Glenwood and Pacific Junction), Mills County Emergency Management / 911 Director Travis Hitchcock, Malvern City Clerk Joe George, Scott Eanes (Silver City), Keith Johnson (Mineola), Andrea Mills (Malvern), Ann Schoening (Silver City), Linda Seipold (Malvern), John Stacey (Silver City), Zennith Wilbur (Emerson - Malvern), Mills County Supervisor Richard Crouch and Jeff Goos (Independent).