07-A EMS 6 Mo. Status Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Van Alstyne Fire Chief Robert Lewis told a crowd of about 35 people at Thursday night's workshop in Van Alstyne that the Van Alstyne Fire Department is ready and eager fo provide coverage to the south end of Grayson Coimty. Lewis's proposal, if approved, will put two amUulances in service on the south side of'Grayson County. Mayor Benny Edwards opened the rouitd-table meeting by asking everybody to keep an opcn mind. Eclwards appointed a task-force last week to rcview a proposaPs income and expenses as laid out by L,ewis. He called the Thursday meeting to hear the committee's findings. Mike Harris, previous owner of MTS Ambulance service, acted as consultant and presented his findings to the committee. Johu Houx, chairman oi' Van Alstyue Economic Development Corporation, asked what alTernatives the city has if it doesu't put the fire deparhnent's proposal into action. "Is our alternakive to relinquish ow- destiny to soineone else again? A private ambulaiice service is iu a profit-makinb business," Hotix said. "A city-owned busincss is not requirecl to make a profit, only to break even." The last two private cotnpanies have failed to serve the county, Houx said. Grayson Coimty Purchasing Agent Jeff Schneider and County Commissioner Johnny Waldrip were there to oPfer inforniation and get the feel of the group. Edwards said much depended on commitments by Howe, Gunter and Grayson CoLinty Mark Miller w2s one of severa] Gunter residents at the meeting. Miller said, "We are in support of liaving a good ambulauce service and this type might possibly bc the most cost- effective solution. We need to have solid numbers to put it before our City Council." Saici Schneider, "We haveu't had a cliance to real1y cruncli your (Van Alstyne) mmibers aiicl we need to really re-look at some of them. Right now, the county is in the same shape as anybody else." Schncidcr said, "We iieed to slow this thing down. We have ambulances in place aiid several weeks to work this out." Schneider told the group there will be another meefing Mouday for furfher discussions. "The wcst (Whitesboro in west Grayson County) is just now getting started and must crunch their numbers aaid make their proposals to tlieir City Council," Sclmeider said, adding that it all has to figure in the miz. County Comniissioncr Johmiy Waldrip said, "Webe got some Yime to serioiisly put this whole tliiiig together." Howe Crty Councilor Jerry Cainpbell, who is 31so assistant fire chieC, said, "You malce surc Van Alstyile is comforfable and the moiiey is worl<ed out and ihen bring it to us."