City of Santa Rosa may charge for 911 calls

Santa Rosa Fire Department crews respond to an average of 33 medical emergency calls every day of the year -- all without directly charging those they help.

But the cash-strapped city may give households and businesses a choice: either an insurance-like monthly fee or face a $350 service charge when city paramedics show up at the door to save a life.

"I wish I could say it would sail right through and people would applaud the idea but I doubt that will be the case. Bringing any fee forward in such bad economic times will be controversial," said Fire Chief Bruce Varner.

Deputy Fire Chief Mark McCormick said residents and business owners likely will contend they already pay property and sales taxes to fund the system.

Those two major sources of funding, however, have declined significantly, leaving the city facing a projected $23 million deficit during the budget year that starts July 1.

"This will help fill that gap," McCormick said.

The proposal, to be discussed at a City Council study session Tuesday, calls for a voluntary program that would levy a $3- or $4-a-month emergency medical response fee on willing households and businesses.

Those who sign up would be exempt from paying the $350 it costs the city to send a paramedic-staffed fire engine crew to provide basic life-saving services to anyone living at or visiting that address.

"If you look at our nearly $30 million budget," McCormick said of the fire department, "about 65 percent of the calls we get are emergency medical calls."

In 2007, the department fielded 714 fire-related calls and 12,128 calls for medical assistance. There were more than 5,000 other types of calls, including for hazardous material situations and false alarms.

McCormick said the fee has been under study for several years but is being pushed now because of the city's mounting budget deficit. The City Council has authorized the elimination of 85 staff positions and $14.2 million worth of cuts, including the closure of one of the city's 10 fire stations on a rotating daily basis.

Another $8.7 million in proposed cuts, mostly in the police department, and the rotating closure of a second fire station, remain in play. While those cost-cutting measures will be reviewed by the council at its March 24 meeting, the council will discuss numerous revenue-raising ideas during its study session Tuesday.

The emergency response fee is the only revenue proposal of six being considered that does not require voter approval.

The other five, and money they would generate annually, are: a quarter-sales tax measure ($7 million), a $50 parcel tax ($2.5 million), an increase in the hotel room bed tax to 12 percent from 9 percent ($1.2 million), and adjustments in business license fees and the utility users tax ($500,000 each).

City officials in the past have rejected putting measures such as the business license and utility fees on the ballot because the potential revenue is such a small share of what they said the city needs.

Council members also have voiced concerns about voter receptivity to an additional sales tax increase in light of the state Legislature's recent decision to boost the state sales tax by 1 cent starting in April. They also cite the recent controversy over the council's decision to redirect Measure O sales tax revenues to stave off police department layoffs rather than expand the department as voters had been promised.

In addition, city voters in 2000 rejected an increase in the hotel room occupancy tax.

McCormick said the emergency response fee, which would be included in monthly utility bills, is not unprecedented. He said at least 15 cities, mostly in Southern California, have the voluntary fee program in place.

The city of Sonoma adopted the fee in 1991 and, according to a report compiled by McCormick, now has 26 percent of the city's homeowners enrolled.

McCormick estimates a combination of the fee and the service charge that would be paid by those who do not sign up would generate about $1.5 million a year for Santa Rosa, about what is raised in Corona, a similar-sized city in Southern California.

McCormick said paramedics aboard city fire engines are the first to arrive to emergency calls 75 percent of the time.

The role of the city paramedics is to stabilize the patient and assess their condition in preparation for the arrival of the ambulance crew.

Under state law, cities are prohibited from charging for anything but basic life support, McCormick said. "Basic life support means CPR, patient assessment, stopping bleeding, providing oxygen, caring for shock," he said.

"When you get there you have four to six minutes to make a difference in a person who stops breathing," McCormick said of the city's response time goal. "People's lives every day get saved by early intervention and we make a difference," he said.

He said the $350 fee would not be levied if the city crew does not provide medical assistance when called.

"Lots of times elderly people will fall out of bed. If they're not hurt and they simply need help getting back in bed, there's no charge," he said.

Varner said the revenue would go into the general fund, the part of the city's budget that finances nearly a dozen departments including police, fire, planning, park and recreation and public works.

Varner said he did not know if the money would be used to offset the daily closure of a second city fire station set to begin July 1, a move estimated to save the city $1.1 million a year.

"The ultimate use of the funds is the council's decision," he said.

Searcy Fire Department Achieves Accredited Agency Status

Searcy Fire Department Fire Chief Bill Baldridge announces the SFD’s induction into a group of 130 agencies worldwide that have obtained a CFAI Accredited Agency Status. The SFD is the first fire department in the state of Arkansas to receive the honor. The ceremony was held Wednesday morning at the central fire station. Mayor Belinda LaForce, left, looks on.

Under Construction

This blog is on a temporary hiatus, but look for changes coming soon. Stay tuned!

Vehicle Recovered by Searcy Police

A 1997 white Pontiac Firebird was reported stolen to the Searcy Police Department at 6 a.m. this morning by its owner, Jose Tello-Calaviz, of 300 Clinic St. Tello-Calaviz went back into his home after starting his vehicle and returned outside when he heard the vehicle leaving.
 
Just after 8:45 this morning, an officer from the Searcy Police Department spotted a vehicle matching the description of the stolen Firebird. The vehicle was seen in the area of downtown Searcy before heading west on West Center St. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle but the suspect vehicle fled. The officer pursued the vehicle to North Lucy where the Firebird struck the stop sign and then rammed the officer’s cruiser. The driver of the vehicle exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Roger Ayers, an Arkansas Department of Corrections Officer, was driving by and saw the suspect fleeing. Ayers pulled his vehicle in front of the suspect and ordered him to stop. The suspect was chased into a nearby yard where he was apprehended and taken into custody. The Searcy Police Department is charging Jimmy D. Looney, 29, with fleeing, careless and prohibited driving, and driving on a suspended license along with a felony charge of theft by receiving. Numerous items were recovered from the vehicle, including four firearms, that were reported to the White County Sheriffs Department as having been stolen.

Stimulus on a map

This GIS system was developed to provide a dashboard application to show the economic indicators you would want if you had to manage the country.

Diving into Concrete

Holy Crap. The Dow is at 6,545 right now. If we lose 230 points a day, we'll have hit zero in less that 28 days. 

That means Obama, Pelosi, and Barney Frank aren't allowed to talk anymore. Period. 

Time for a Riot

Let's escalate things. Let's make it really interesting. Let's riot. Let's march on Washington, on our state capitals and on our legislatures. Let's march with torches and pitchforks, baseball bats, and righteous anger. 

Let's make ourselves heard. 

A few days ago, I said that I felt good about the bigger picture for America. I still do. However, we have to survive Obama first. I no longer believe that to be possible, if I ever did. George W. Bush was far too incompetent to cause much damage. However, Barack Obama is certainly smart enough and articulate to ruin the American economy, which he has succeeded in doing. 

The Senate has approved another $500 billion dollar loan for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the taxpayer funded entity tasked with backing the deposits in banks. Yay. More burden for the lowly proletariat taxpayer. Add that to my $20 trillion dollar tab, would you Obama? 

And the government hasn't even begun to address Social Security. 

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot people! Let's start a riot!

BK council appoints new ambulance committee

BALD KNOB - The city council voted unanimously to replace the board of the city's volunteer ambulance service with its own committee and to fire one volunteer for misconduct.

“We have had some discrepancies and problems in our ambulance service for about six weeks,” said Alderman Johnny Hodges, chairman of the council's ambulance committee, at the council's regular monthly meeting Monday.

The volunteer board, which has guided the service's operations, will be replaced by the committee, consisting of Hodges, Mayor Bob Carpenter and Alderman Dennis Hearyman.

After 13 minutes of regular business, the council entered into an executive session to consider a personnel issue, and after 40 minutes emerged from a back room for a public vote.

The council voted to retain Bertie Yates as the clerk for the ambulance service and to terminate the employment of Barbara Frye, a volunteer emergency medical technician.

“I'm tired of the bickering,” Hodges said in making the motion to terminate Frye's employment.

The service made 51 runs in February, with volunteers paid for each time they participate.

Frye said she resigned before she was terminated.

“There's been some issues that have been going on,” Frye said Tuesday. “I turned in my resignation yesterday because pretty much I knew that's what the mayor wanted and what he wants, he gets. They didn't come and talk to me about it last night. They had originally set up a meeting for them to talk to me Tuesday night but the next thing I know that was canceled and they were going into executive session.”

Frye spoke about what issues had been ongoing.

“I'm not really even sure about everything,” Frye said. “I think there was a lot of biased opinions. There was a discrepancy between me and an officer on a medical call.”

Because of laws governing patient privacy, Frye was unable to say which patient was involved in the controversy but said the incident happened in January.

According to a report by a Bald Knob police dispatcher, Frye came to the station after being paged out to a scene Jan. 11. Frye used profanity in referring to the patient and refused to transport the patient, the dispatcher said.

Frye said that report is not true.

“I went on the scene,” Frye said. “The patient had some problems. She did refuse to go. I tried to follow her into her home. She got to her door and told me to stay out. I did not use any profanity.”

Another witness, whom Frye declined to name, has signed a statement backing up Frye's version, Frye said.

“I've served on the ambulance service for eight years with no complaints,” Frye said. “I served professionally.”

Carpenter did not participate in the executive session.

“I stayed out of the meeting because of a suggestion that I might be biased,” Carpenter said.

There was no further reference to the future of the ambulance service at the meeting.

‘Pit bull' attitude stalls 911 plan

The Daily Citizen

An effort to negotiate a working agreement between the Bald Knob volunteer ambulance service and the White County 911 Emergency Management Administrative Board have failed.

Complaints were first made public by Bill Haynie, chairman of the 911 board, over reports of slow or refused calls by the Bald Knob service. After the quorum court's public safety committee heard debate of the controversy in January, a meeting was arranged involving a representative of NorthStar EMS and representatives of the Bald Knob service. NorthStar provides advanced life support services to the county according to a county ordinance, and the Bald Knob service provides basic life support services to the area represented by the Bald Knob School District.

“Two of the Bald Knob people - Barbara Frye and Lisa Carlisle - came to the meeting with no intention of compromising,” said Bill Haynie, chairman of the 911 board. “Jerry Yates came there with all intentions of talking this thing out and having a good discussion but the two ladies came there with a pit bull attitude and weren't willing to work with us.”

Frye was a volunteer with the Bald Knob service at the time of the meeting and has since been relieved of duty. Carlisle is dispatch supervisor in the Bald Knob Police Department.

Also at the meeting were Tonia Hale, National Paramedic of the Year for 2006 and director of operations for NorthStar, White County Judge Michael Lincoln, Justice of the Peace Kenneth Horton, whose district includes Bald Knob, and Nancy Van Winkle, supervisor of the White County 911 dispatch center.

At issue was which dispatch center would make the decision whether advanced life support was needed.

“We've got one of the most professional police departments in White County,” said Tim Sanford, assistant chief of police for Bald Knob. “We get a lot of comments about how our dispatchers are professional. Our disaptchers know when to call for advanced life support.”

The Bald Knob dispatch center operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Our department has the same training as their department,” Sanford said.

At the meeting, Horton proposed a compromise that was rejected by Frye and Carlisle.

Haney said he expects the Bald Knob service to continue to operate under a new agreement to be worked out with the ambulance committee of the Bald Knob City Council, which consists of Mayor Bob Carpenter and Aldermen Johnny Hodges and Dennis Hearyman.

“I talked to the mayor and I've talked to Mr. Hodges, and it's my understanding they are agreeable to Kenneth Horton's idea,” Haynie said, “and that was if dispatch here gets a 911 call for service in the Bald Knob School District, then the Bald Knob service will be dispatched. But if our dispatcher thinks that advanced life support is needed by past experience and common sense, then they are going to go ahead and call NorthStar and let them proceed. NorthStar said they didn't mind making a dead run because they'd rather be called and not be needed then not be called and they were needed.”

Haynie wanted to offer assurance that the 911 board did not want to eliminate the Bald Knob service.

“We're not trying to take over their business,” Haynie said. “We want what's best for everybody.”

The next meeting of the 911 board is scheduled for April 6. The board meets at 5 p.m. the first Monday of each month on the second floor of the Emergency Operations Center, 417 N. Spruce, in Searcy.

Embedding a wireless camera in your eye?

Check this out. Kinda freaky. Kinda cool. 

Roundup: No Clues on bombing, AEDs, and Rockslide.

Arkansas Legislature advances bill for AEDs in high schools.


ATF agents have processed 300 leads in the investigation of the car bombing of a West Memphis doctor, but still have no suspects. A $50,000 reward has been offered.

Fox 16 reported tonight about a landslide that has developed in the backyard of a Little Rock residence. The residence is located near a mall development. The city of Little Rock has plans in place in the event that the hill side gives way.

The youngest emergency manager

A 4 year old is credited with saving his mothers life by dialing 911 when she collapsed on the floor. You can listen to the 911 call here

Obama names FEMA Chief

Fox News is reporting that President Obama has named Florida Emergency Management Director Craig Fugate as the new head of FEMA. Fugate has directed the responses to eight hurricanes during his time as Florida's EM head. He seems to be a respectable pick.

Wanna buy a boat?

The US Navy is trying to get rid of a pair of boats. I wish I had the money for the Sea Scout. I saw this boat on the Discovery Channel several years ago. Amazing boat. Stealth technology. 

Igor Panarin is calling for the fall of the United States. Same as he's done since the 70s. 

Legislative Roundup

There are several items on the legislative agenda pertaining to firearms.

HB 1237 still sits in the Senate Judiciary Committee. I doubt it will get passed. A significant amount of controversy has developed over the ability for CC permit holders to carry into church.

HB 1097 never left the House Judiciary committee. I expect it will die there.

New legislation, SB 768, proposed by Taylor, proposed to remove the ability of a local unit of government to regulate firearms following the proclamation by the governor of a state of emergency. It's on the agenda for debate today. Whether or not they actually get to it....

The Balance of Power

I feel better about my country today. It's not that anything in America has particularly gotten any better, it's just that my perspective has changed. I fell victim to what I think might happen to a lot of people in this country: I lost my historical perspective.

America is a young country. It's always had a balance of outright hubris and a feeling of paranoia or panic. This makes sense for an adolescent trying to find it's place in the world doesn't it?

A few days ago, President Barack Obama announced that he might be willing to cancel the missile defense program in exchange for the Russian's help in containing the development of Iran's nuclear program.

At first, I was willing to throw rocks at Obama for even thinking about canceling the missile defense program. I have a special place in my heart for a national missile defense program. President Ronald Reagan announced the program on the day that I was born. I don't know if there is a coincidence, but in any case, I have always been fascinated behind the technology of missile defense. Not to mention the feeling one gets by watching a giant rocket in a contained skyward explosion. Sheer power. Grunt.

Obama's willingness to seek help from the Russians is simply an effort to seek a restoration of the balance of power that existed in the Middle East during the Cold War. Hear me out. During the Cold War, the thought of the emergence of a regional power in the middle east was always prevented because the Soviets and the Americans would have immediately exchanged blows in response. No one dared moved in the middle east during the Cold War.

Problems in Afghanistan began when the Americans tried to subvert the Soviets by funding a resistance effort in the country. When the Soviet Union fell, the forces that had been trained in the American military way of covert intelligence gathering, equipped with American military arms and equipment turned against the United States. Surprise.

Although the Soviets were the military enemy at the time, they served to counter the development of any regional power. There may have been individual military engagements since then, but there has not been a development of a regional power.

Even if Iran develops the capability for nuclear weapons (Indeed, many say it already has them) it is not likely that a regional power will develop. The United States holds the keys to far too many players in the region.

The strategy of the United States is not to win wars, but to serve as the disrupting force to anything that counters the power of the US.

I have the full confidence that the United States can counter any threat that comes it's way so long as the economy is still as vibrant as it has been. We still have the largest economy in the world. As long as other countries still seek to trade with us, we will always retain our existing superpower status.

Barry Manilow Fights Graffiti

New Building Design Withstands Earthquake Simulation -University of Michigan

Counter Laptop Theft here: Speak Directly to the Thieves

Barry Manilow Fights Graffiti: Read about here.