Emporia city commissioners approved an ambulance agreement with Lyon County at their regular meeting Wednesday evening.
The agreement, drawn up by the joint city-county contracts committee, calls for the city to provide ambulance service to areas outside the city limits. The county will be charged $60,000 each of the year’s first three quarters, with the remainder of the cost to be paid in the final quarter. The charge is based on the number of calls, miles driven to and from the fire station and amount of time spent by firefighter-EMTs and paramedics.
“I think we all agree how important the ambulance service is, not only for the city but for the outlying areas,” Commissioner Jim Kessler said.
“We all appreciate that if something happens to us or if we have a heart attack, or whatever it is, wherever we are, we expect an ambulance with trained EMTs and paramedics and trained personnel to be there.”
Kessler said that throughout the year, the ambulance service faces expenditures of $2 million but only brings in $1 million in revenues.
“We’re basically subsidizing the ambulance service to the tune of just under $1 million,” Kessler said. “Right or wrong, that’s a matter of public health and safety. ...”
Commissioners also authorized the mayor to execute future grant documents for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, approved a loan agreement from the Kansas Water Loan Fund, authorized the mayor to execute that agreement and accepted easements for the 18th Avenue Bridge Project.
The commission was set to adopt the budget for the 2010 fiscal year, but held off on that decision and continued the public budget hearing until Sept. 2.
City Manager Matt Zimmerman said the delay was necessary because of a question with notice of the budget’s publication.
“We are asking the commission to consider continuing this hearing to the Sept. 2 city commission meeting in case it was properly noticed, or in case it wasn’t, the staff will publish a new notice that is correct,” Zimmerman said.
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Reddog was at this meeting and I am puzzled why the Emporia Gazette and KVOE completely edited out the comments of the flamboyant long time Real Estate broker K. B. Thomas Jr. He really nailed the City Commission, when he asked how much are the administrative fees for the utility funds. The answer was 2 million dollars. Mr Thomas said, how much is this overstated? The answer was at least 50%. Then K.B. Thomas Jr. said, this is a hidden tax on the very poorest people in our community. Mr Kessler said, well if we do not do it this way, we have to put more tax on property. Mr. Thomas said, this is a discriminatory tax on the people in our community who are least able to pay. This was a profound statement and for the GAZETTE AND KVOE to not report it is shameful. WHAT A COVER UP. Reddog realizes that these are hard times and the media does not want to upset major advertising clients in the car business. I do admire the honesty of the commission but, why did it take the inquisitive mind of K.B. Thomas Jr. to bring forth the whole angaladia? What an eye opener. Its makes you wonder what else are they are hiding from the public?
August 20, 2009 at 11:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
d23_66801 (anonymous) says...
you go!
August 21, 2009 at 12:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
FinallyOUT (anonymous) says...
Ok, Seriously..? KB Thomas... a patriot for Emporia's future.. ?
I think not.
Maybe the Gazette realized what everyone else who has seen KB at every single commission meeting for years....
"HOLY COW!, this man is crazy. "
One semi true statement out of years of strange, but amusing tangents... does not make you profound.
August 21, 2009 at 1:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
APATHY IS THE GLOVE INTO WHICH EVIL SLIPS ITS HAND. BODIE THORNE
August 21, 2009 at 3:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I saw K.BTHOMAS JR make a presentation to the city commissioners concerning FEDERAL FUNDS for a housing grant. He was concerned that this might lead to an increase in the bureaucracy. When HUD gets their foot in the door, they can send testers into the community and this involves bankers, insurance and real estate people as well as the city government. One city back east was sued for 80 million dollars, for discrimination. I THINK EMPORIA might be in trouble as I have discovered several things that might constitute a pattern of discrimination. For one thing, the city is over taxing the least able to pay in reguards to the utility funds. Just recently, the city decided to direct traffic north on 12th and 15th avenues to the disadvantage of minority businessmen on highway 50 and 6th avenues. A low income area was the victim of a grandfathered in addition to an ugly substation near a HUD housing complex AND the unbelievable zoning in this same southeast part of town of HEAVY INDUSTRIAL in the front yards of residential properties without just compenstation. WILL ROGERS said, I do not make jokes, I just WATCH the government and report the facts.
August 21, 2009 at 4:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
K.B.THOMAS was not at the city commission meeting. His son, K.B.THOMAS JR was in attendance, he is an advocate for fair taxation and property rights. About ten years ago, he went up against the chamber of commerce and campaigned for a full time Economic Development Director. The next year the idea caught fire and EMPORIA started a new era of expansion, not seen since the 1960s. About 20 years ago, he campaigned for two people at large as consumer advocates for the building trades board. About 40 years ago he ran for LYON COUNTY COMMISSION on a platform of consolidation. He was Lyon County chairman for PRESIDENT Richard Nixion.
August 21, 2009 at 5:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
IF the reporter had a different headline, like city commission is reporting 2 million dolars for administration fees or the FEDS are sending a strong message on fair housing along with the grant. Then I think more people would come to the article but, I think it was planned that way.
August 21, 2009 at 5:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
reddog,
nobody cares anymore . they are tired of it all.
August 21, 2009 at 6:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
reddog, er KB, careful patting yourself on the back, you might strain yourself.
August 21, 2009 at 10:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Someone once said, there is nothing harder than the softness of indifference.
August 21, 2009 at 10:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I just heard some super news, the BRITISH are coming. REMEMBER REDDOG TOLD YOU FIRST. Good jobs for EMPORIA.
August 21, 2009 at 10:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
agree2disagree (anonymous) says...
FinallyOUT.... please define crazy.
August 21, 2009 at 10:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
agree2disagree (anonymous) says...
A public forum, also called an open forum, is open to all expression that is protected under the First Amendment. Public forums cannot be restricted based on content.
Someone needs to speak up for vulnerable and oppressed groups in our society. I am curious how many of you can say you have been to every city commission meeting for years as stated above? Most people have likely never attended on meeting but sit back and expect change to happen without their voice being heard.
If you are tired of hearing what is being said you do have a choice to leave the forum or simply tune this individual out or maybe think outside of the box and truly listen to what is being said. Just because you think your way of thinking is right, doesn’t always mean that it is. Thankfully, we live in a free country where someone we can have our own ideas, thoughts, and beliefs, as well as the freedom to speak our mind.
Can’t we all just agree to disagree and try to understand each other? Why is this such a difficult concept for people to grasp?
As far as the crazy comment made…….Beethoven, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Ernest Hemingway, Sir Isaac Newton, Abraham Lincoln, John Forbes Nash, Jr, Syd Barret (founder of Pink Floyd band)……..what is the common factor? Mental Illness. So if people say your crazy (not saying you are) but it appears your in good company my friend.
August 21, 2009 at 12:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
and what does all this have to do with the ambulance contract?
August 21, 2009 at 2 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gold66801 (anonymous) says...
WOW
August 21, 2009 at 4:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Paccifier (anonymous) says...
Well, when you are not taken seriously under your real name anymore, I guess you have to adopt a cover name, and pat yourself on the back so someone will listen to you
August 21, 2009 at 8:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Everything looks impossible for the people who never try anything. Good night and God bless.
August 25, 2009 at 10:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )