A growing out-county population and lengthy response times outside the Cape Girardeau-Jackson area are reasons to consider changes in how Cape Girardeau County's ambulance services are set up, says Edward Frenzel.

"These people are paying the same taxes," Frentzel says. "They should be getting the same kind of rescue service."

An organizational meeting called to form a group hoping to improve ambulance response times in the county was attended by eight people Monday at the Drury Lodge.

The meeting was arranged by Frenzel, a licensed practical nurse who is a case manager for Home Health Agency, and Sherry Koehler, an emergency medical technician.

Among those attending were representatives of Cape County Private Ambulance, which provides emergency rescue service throughout the county, and a member of the East County Fire Protection District.

A single ambulance district based in Cape Girardeau responds to emergencies for the county's 62,000 residents, Frenzel points out, while Scott County population 39,000 is divided into two districts with ambulances stationed in three different locations.

"Scott County has 50 percent less population and twice as many ambulance districts," Frenzel said.

He suggests that rural fire districts could be employed as first responders, with ambulances providing transportation to the hospital. He also says it's worth considering moving parts or all of the service to Jackson.

In response, Cape Girardeau attorney Joe Russell said an ambulance was located in Jackson for a time but could not be justified economically. "We do maintain a location in Cape Girardeau because that's where most of the calls originate," he said. Russell's son, Dr. John Russell, is president of the ambulance company.

But Russell said, "We certainly are open to suggestions as to things that could be done to improve emergency services in the county."

Sharon Sticht, a member of the board of the East County Fire Protection District, which runs from the Cape Girardeau city limits to Jackson, said three EMTs and 18 first responders are among the district's volunteers.

The current system wastes the advantage of having people on the scene of an emergency quickly, she said.

"We're never paged for our accidents. You can be there before you can give directions."

Frentzel said the group next will begin talking to rural fire districts and city officials to receive their suggestions for improving response times.

He plans to present recommendations to the Cape County Commission within a few months.