Going with option one: Jefferson County Commission takes over ambulance service

An ambulance currently run out of the Blue Ridge Mountain Volunteer Fire Department will no longer run out of that station in the county’s plan to take over ambulance service in Jefferson County. Ambulance service for the mountain will instead be housed at Citizens Fire Company on Route 340. Toni Milbourne
CHARLES T0WN — Last May, the Jefferson County Commission voted unanimously to move forward to create a plan for county ambulance service.
The vote came after months of contention between the commission members and members of the volunteer fire and rescue companies, who did not see eye-to-eye on how service to county residents should be provided.
The commission procured a study from Fitch & Associates, outlining three models the county could pursue to purportedly improve ambulance service in the county. The study was secured without any input from the volunteer providers, which has caused considerable concern over where the next steps for ambulance service were headed in the county.
Components of the motion included directing the commission’s administrator to develop an organizational structure for the county ambulance service; to consult with all necessary experts, advisors and contractors to assist with the creation and operation of the service; to secure all necessary vendors or contractors to assist with the creation and operation of the service; to secure all necessary licenses, certifications, permits and approvals to accomplish the commission’s directive to create a county ambulance service; to propose a final number of ambulances that are required to provide service to the citizens of Jefferson County; to negotiate purchases of ambulances and obtain the necessary facilities to house and operate the ambulances; and to report to the commission on progress and seek further authorization as necessary.
The motion and unanimous vote came the same evening after two individuals, both volunteers in the county, voiced opposition to the removal of ambulance service from the volunteer stations.
Moving ahead with the plan, the county, over the ensuing months, earmarked approximately $5 million from American Recovery Plan Act funds to purchase ambulances and pay for new hires for the proposed county services.
The official county-run service is set to begin on March 1.
A July meeting had commissioners taking action to adopt a plan for ambulances to be placed at four fire stations in the county — Harpers Ferry, Citizens, Shepherdstown and Independent. There would be six ambulances staffed during daytime hours and five staffed overnight.
The county also voted in August, in a 3-2 vote, to move forward with eliminating the Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency board of directors and make the agency a county department.
Jefferson County Administrator John Nissel provided commissioners with options for moving forward with ambulance service in the county. Commissioners had been moving toward a county-owned and operated ambulance service for the several months.
Nissel’s first option, which the county ultimately voted to adopt, was worded as follows: “Keep moving toward a rewrite of the current bylaws in ESA to reflect language that assures a well-balanced board with checks and balances in place to keep both you and our constituents informed of how funds are being spent and revenues generated. At the same time, we would work to establish a department status and create a ‘first-due area,’ eventually moving everything under the commission as a department.”
While commissioners discussed the possibility of going with another option, that would have left the JCESA intact and revisited the issue later, Commissioner Steve Stolipher made the motion to select the first option, which would create the county department.
While Jackson continued to voice concerns, including ones over the elimination of a board that allows public input toward the emergency services in the county, Caleb Hudson, current president of the body, discounted the removal of those public members.
“(Members of the public) can go vote or make public comment,” Hudson said.
Hudson, who seconded Stolipher’s motion, was joined in the approving vote by Commissioner Jane Tabb, who said that despite it being a “messy situation,” the county, rather than a board, needed to have the say on how money is spent.