More than 100 people were in attendance for the Hardin County Fiscal Court’s Town Hall Forum Monday evening, where the topic of conversation was the possible placement of a Hardin County EMS ambulance unit at the West Hardin Fire and Rescue Station 2 facility in White Mills.
The opinion of those who spoke during the event was largely the same: they believe the county needs to find the money to staff a full-time ambulance unit in White Mills without having to take a unit away from another municipality.
“I understand finances are what they are, and there’s only so much money to go around,” said Cecilia resident Dr. Steven Preston. “I won’t pretend otherwise, but if this committee does not let this happen, you are literally condemning certain people to death. I can’t understand what could be more important in terms of allocating funds than this.”
Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul said it would cost the county about $425,000 to bring a ninth full-time unit online, with most of the cost related to staffing. While Taul said other options have been explored such as moving one of the other full-time units or staffing White Mills with a part-time unit, he believes a new full-time unit is the best option.
“There have been 575 runs so far this year in the proposed White Mills redistricted area,” Taul said. “Note that these runs are longer, to reach the hospital and return to the station. Shifting the zone coverage will expand services with a full-time unit in White Mills who will cut response times in half and reallocate equipment and staff to be utilized in a more efficient manner.”
A lease agreement between the county and West Hardin Fire and Rescue will be considered at Tuesday’s fiscal court meeting. Taul said if approved, he plans to announce future EMS plans by Wednesday.
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