Ambulance Service to Return to Well-Traveled Leon County
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Updated: 1:04 AM May 10, 2009
Ambulance Service to Return to Well-Traveled Leon County
A critical item on the ballot in Leon County Saturday night had wide-reaching impact, and voters there have decided to raise property taxes in order to return permanent ambulance service to the area.
Posted: 11:19 PM May 9, 2009
Reporter: Steve Fullhart
Email Address: fullhart@kbtx.com
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A critical item on the ballot in Leon County Saturday night had wide-reaching impact, and voters there have decided to raise property taxes in order to return permanent ambulance service to the area.

Drivers on I-45 between Houston and Dallas have Buffalo to pass through, but a wreck on that road has even deadlier consequences because northeast Leon County -- its residents and its passers-through -- have no permanent service, this after Palestine EMS had to back out of it's all-but-free coverage.

Saturday, voters have signed off on a 10-cent property tax increase in order to create an emergency service district, the fourth in Leon County, and restore permanent ambulance service to the thousands who live there and the thousands who pass through daily.

Three previous elections have seen an ESD on the ballot for that part of the county, but each failed.

Opponents of the plan said there were other ways to raise the funds needed, including a reworking of the sales tax. Some opponents even hypothesized that 9-1-1 calls would be answered by a company even if they weren't contracted to the area.

However, other ambulance service representatives told residents they could not answer calls for help even though they, as medical professionals, would desperately want to do so. Legally, the company's could be held liable if they left the areas they normally work in uncovered.

Besides the residents who live there, county officials say tens of thousands of motorists travel through the area on I-45 daily.

The county has hired Legacy EMS as a temporary provider of service.

County Judge Byron Ryder said once the votes have been canvased, a board for the ESD will be selected. Its first job will be to find the permanent ambulance provider. Ryder said that provider could be in place as early as the middle of June.

The judge also said Legacy will continue its temporary service until that company or another to provide permanent service is in place.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Linda Location: Buffalo on May 14, 2009 at 10:23 PM

This tax will only cost big property owners. Then if we need an ambulance we will pay again. The people that don't own property will not pay the tax and probaly will never pay to ride in an ambulance. We will pay again for them.
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Posted by: maec Location: buffalo on May 13, 2009 at 07:41 AM

THE LEON COUNTY COMMISIONER'S COURT SELECTED THE 5 PERSON BOARD FOR THE EDS#4 ON TUESDAY AS FOLLOWNS; JOEY RODELL, JOE ECHOLS, VERA BARNETT, PAT SMITH, JERRY MOORE.
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Dan Location: Buffalo on May 11, 2009 at 09:42 AM

I really hope Legacy does not get the contract. They dont know the area or anything. If they got a call out in a remote part of that district they would be screwed. I say bring on Jewett EMS! They are a very professional service.
[ Report Abuse ]
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