HUCKSTEP: FASTER AMBULANCE RESPONSE WOULD BE COSTLY

JACKSON - An effort by a small group of Cape County citizens to increase emergency ambulance response times in out county areas would likely carry a significant price tag, Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep said Monday.

"That may be very, very difficult to accomplish," said Huckstep, of an effort being coordinated by Edward A. Frenzel, an LPN now working for Home Health Agency, and Sherry Koehler, an emergency medical technician.

The group held its first meeting last week, with the goal of trying to insure that people in all parts of Cape County are receiving the same kind of response times as people living in the cities of Cape and Jackson.

Many counties have ambulance districts which are funded by property tax levies. But in Cape County, the commission has for many years had a contract with Cape County Private Ambulance to provide a subsidy for emergency service. The subsidy comes from county general revenue and not from a special tax.

The subsidy for this year is $156,000 and next year it will drop to $144,000 in the final year of a three-year agreement between the commission and ambulance company.

"We would like to get off the subsidy, but as long as Cape County is in good financial condition it is difficult to ask people to vote in a mil tax for ambulance service," said Huckstep. "We would probably need to go to districts to get better response time, but they would be terribly expensive if you staffed ambulance districts. It could cost double, or even triple of what it costs now."

Frenzel argues that it is unfair to outcounty residents, who pay taxes like everyone else, not to have the same access to emergency ambulance services.

Huckstep admits that response times are different, but contends it is a problem that occurs for fire and police protection as well.

Said Huckstep: "Our position right now has been that we provide a certain sum of money for the subsidy, which has been declining. We hope that the response time is as good as humanly possible throughout the county."

Huckstep added that he is not aware of any strong concern in the county about response times. Under the county's agreement with the ambulance service, the county can request an investigation and explanation on any written complaint filed about the ambulance service. In the last three years, Huckstep said only two or three complaints have been filed.

"I don't think the service has been bad. It is like the ambulance service anyplace else, the only difference is we pay a heavy lug from general revenue for the service," said Huckstep.

The presiding commissioner believes that the implementation of a countywide 911 emergency telephone service will go a long way toward increasing response times in rural parts of Cape County. The new system, which will go on line around the first of November, will make it easier for emergency service vehicles to find homes.

"I really believe the 911 thing will take care of some of these problems on response times," suggested Huckstep.

The ambulance service has one station on North Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. In the past, the company has experimented with having an ambulance stationed in Jackson, but it was not economically feasible. A high percentage of the calls come from Cape Girardeau and along I-55.

Slower emergency response time is one of the disadvantages to living in the country, Huckstep said. "I live in the country and had to sacrifice some in fire response, ambulance response, and police response to enjoy country living. I know when I have a fire, there will be a big response difference than when I lived on Ridgeway Drive (in Cape). That is what I chose and that is what my insurance company charges me extra for," said Huckstep.

"That's the risk you have to take to have that style of living. I knew that full well when I moved out there. I wanted some elbow room and a little tranquility, and I've got it, but I have to sacrifice to get it."

Frenzel and his group have also suggested that rural fire districts provide a first responder role, much like what is being done by firemen in the city of Cape now.

Huckstep said he has no problems with them taking that role, if they are properly trained. But since the firemen are volunteers and are working on farms or at jobs outside the fire district, response times may not be as fast as desired.

"It's a little different in the city of Cape and Jackson because they have people at those fire houses," said Huckstep. "I'm not opposed to it, but I do not think it would be a very good option, except maybe at night."

Huckstep said the county commission will take a close look at any recommendations the citizens committee will come up with and may find they have a good idea. But he fears most ideas will cost money, that someone will have to come up with.

"I think the bottom line is if people in sparsely populated areas want a better system, it's going to cost," said Huckstep. "For the person who thinks they will get a response time at Oak Ridge or Whitewater equal to the city of Cape or Jackson, they are just whistling Dixie. It's not going to happen; they don't have it now with fire protection, even with rural fire districts in place."