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Debate over ambulance service continues Candice Davidson, director of the McIntosh Rescue Squad (MRS), told the commission, during its Oct. 22 meeting, that the county ambulance board had recently met to make provision for a countywide ambulance service. "They did not consider MRS's 30 years of service," she stated. She told the commission that the McIntosh City Council had passed a resolution that MRS would be the primary ambulance service for the town of McIntosh and the McIntosh police jurisdiction. "And come November 1, the McIntosh Rescue Squad will be the only licensed ambulance service in Washington County, as Life-Line is only licensed in Clarke County," Davidson emphasized. Davidson said that MRS talked with Life-Line for three and one-half hours and was unable to come to any agreement. Robby Davidson told the commission that he had been working with MRS for 26 of his 44 years. "We are not going anywhere," he said. "and we will not let them take it (MRS) away." He then related a touching account of a woman this past Sunday at Rivers Baptist Church and how MRS had restored her heart rhythm after a RN at the church had performed CPR until the MRS's arrived on the scene. Davidson emphasized that saving this woman's life was all done with volunteers. "Whether paid or volunteer, we all have the same training and qualifications," he said. Commissioner William "Termite" Beasley said that recently a citizen of Millry died because of delay in ambulance arrival. Robby Davidson interjected, "Millry is where an ambulance needs to be." Candice Davidson added that she agreed advising the Fruitdale and Epworth fire departments have dedicated themselves to First Responder training and Millry is limited to fire training only. Judge Charles Singleton discussed the structure of the ambulance board and referred to a copy of the law that created the board. "In my opinion, they have over-stepped the law by providing AEDs and buying medical supplies and purchasing a building." He said that some stipulations that should have gone into the bill got omitted because when the reference department at the state was writing this bill, former Rep. Jeff Dolbare was ill. Singleton continued that at the time the bill passed, MRS thought it would get 30 percent of the money generated. "In the recent meeting, it was made clear that they (Ambulance Board) would cease to fund MRS." "I wish to God we had never supported that tag fee!" Robby Davidson said. "It has done nothing but hurt MRS." The judge agreed that the tag fee had indeed hindered MRS's fundraising efforts. "In my opinion, we need an ambulance in Fruitdale and Millry," Judge Singleton said. "If we're going to improve, let's add to, not tear down." And he continued that it was unfortunate that the ambulance board decided to put an ambulance in McIntosh and did not consult the mayor and city council. Commissioner Hilton Robbins told the commission that until he can find out more, he would not vote for a resolution to designate the service areas of the MRS. "We will table the resolution until our next meeting and there is more investigation and we have our attorney's opinion," Singleton said. Hobson Road David Howell, of Hobson, asked the commission to change the names of three roads leading into the Hobson community to West Hobson, East Hobson and Northeast Hobson. Presently the roads have a county road number designation. Howell explained that he had in the past made numerous trips to Chatom to see David Kelly, former E911 director and former Probate Judge Armstrong about this, and could never get anywhere. Howell went on to explain that Hobson has been a community since 1880. "I pay for the lights on the Hobson (Veterans) monument," Howell said. He went on to explain that he also keeps the park cleaned of litter. Judge Singleton explained that there is a process adopted by the commission whereby a petition for road name change accompanied by signatures, must be presented before the commission will entertain a road name change. The judge explained the problems of theft of road signs and even some signs replaced with other signs bearing a different name. The judge continued that road names are put into grids in the Emergency Management System books used to dispatch emergency vehicles. Howell continued that he considered it impossible to get 100 percent of a community to sign a petition because of the varied hours people work. Captain Terry Beasley who was in the meeting suggested that adding the word "Hobson" to the present county road designation was not making a change, but simply is an addition to the county road number. Howell suggested that he would pay for the signs personally. Commissioner Willie Dixon stated that there were several other roads that Kelly may have made agreements about before he took another job. "We did not pass any resolution to charge $75 dollars per sign change," he stated. "I was told to wait 3 years and the change could be made. Then I was told to wait until October. Now I hear you say I have to get 100 percent of the signatures of all those living on the Hobson roads," Howell said. The judge advised Howell to get a petition bearing the signatures of the majority of the affected people requesting the road name change, and bring it to the commission and they will consider it. Resolutions •The commission voted to rescind a former resolution on the same subject, and passed another resolution for the sheriff's department to enter into contract for services to the town of Millry. •Passed a resolution for the sheriff's department to sell seven confiscated junk cars. •Passed a resolution to hire Joy Moss and Ardiath Haselden for dispatcher and jailer, and to advertise until November 13 for a deputy. •Sheriff Richard Stringer was present and reported that all the communication problems between his department and E911 had been worked out and the system is working well. •Resolution passed to allow Laura Taylor, revenue commissioner, to put a $24,118.42 overage into an account for a GIS (Graphic Information System). •Passed a resolution to hire Ferdinand Williams at $2,500, not to exceed 18 months, as cost estimator & inspector for Katrina Grant. •Passed a resolution to set speed limit at 25 mph on the Allen Barnes Road. •After some discussion about additional budget requests from Coroner Shane Thornton, the commission passed a resolution for the sheriff's department to retain possession of a vehicle transferred from Mobile County to Washington County. The coroner had requested a furnished vehicle. The judge explained that the present coroner has a $11,470 annual budget compared to the previous coroner's of $500. He stated that both Choctaw and Clarke counties pay their coroner $500. Other business •County Engineer Jason Strudivant told the commission that it appears to him that the problems brought up at the last meeting by residents of the Richard Seales Road would be resolved at the completion of the paving project. Sturdivant recommended that the commission not take on the maintenance of the Don Whigham Road (District 3) or any more formerly private dirt roads unless built to sub-division regulations. Sturdivant estimated that the bridge over Pine Barren Creek will be completed by early spring. •Jessica Ross, Washington County Library director, had asked Sturdivant about putting a 15-passenger van on the Gov- Deals web site. After discussion, the commission reached the decision that Strudivant give Massey information so that the library can set up their Gov- Deals account separately from the county because of co-mingling of funds problems.
•Because of the Veterans Day holiday, the commission will meet next on Tuesday, Nov. 13.
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