Meeting airs Buffalo ambulance service concerns

Shane Reeder address a very large and attentive crowd about the removal of Buffalo's ambulance service. photo by Morgan Anderson Over 90 Buffalo citizens gathered on Monday, January 26 to discuss the upcoming cancellation of Palestine Regional Hospital's ambulance contract with the city of Buffalo.

The primary purpose of the meeting was to inform the citizens of Buffalo what will happen once Palestine Regional pulls their ambulances out. In order to continue to receive ambulance service, the city of Buffalo and northeast portion of the county must form its own ESD, or Emergency Service District. This will enable the city to operate its own ambulance service by contract. There are already three other districts in Leon County: Centerville, Leona, and Jewett.

Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department Chief Shaine Reeder kicked off the meeting by describing to attendees the dilemma at hand: As of April 7, 2009, Buffalo, Oakwood, and Flo will be without ambulance service.

David Gyles of Palestine Regional EMS explained the reasoning behind the removal of Buffalo service. For the past thirteen years, Palestine Regional has been servicing Buffalo and Northeast Leon County and has lost money each year by providing this service. Gyles also informed subscription owners that they will be paid back their fees at the end of the contract term in April.

In reaction to the crisis, many Buffalo residents have claimed that rather than calling an ambulance, they can just call a helicopter. Steve Jones of AirEvac in Fairfield explained that a helicopter should be called by the fire department or an ambulance. Jones also stated that many residents would not have a proper landing zone, and therefore would have to be transported to a site by an ambulance anyway. David Nobel, Director of Jewett EMS, explained to attendees why his ambulance service cannot serve Buffalo any longer. He stated that of 50 calls to the area in 2007, 24 were no-pays, 14 were notransports, and Jewett EMS only collected 32.5% of total costs. In 2008, of 20 total calls, 13 were no-pays and the EMS received payment for only one call.

Shaine Reeder of the Buffalo Fire Department stated that in order for Buffalo to obtain its own ESD, 100 registered voters and landowners must sign a petition which states that they could be charged up to ten cents per $100/property valuation. The petition will be reviewed at a hearing on March 4, and if the petition is acceptable, an election will be called on March 9.

If the proposal passes at the election on May 9, five members will be appointed to a committee to control the funds. Unfortunately, it could take up to a year for the funds to come together. During this time, loans may be sought to fund operations to service the area in the interim period.

If the proposal does not pass, as it has not in three previous tries, the city must wait one calendar year to hold another election on the subject. Reeder stated that this had been the most successful meeting in previous tries, however.

Reeder closed the meeting by encouraging those in attendance to campaign heavily for the proposal and encourage their friends and neighbors to get out and vote on May 9 to make the Buffalo area Leon County's fourth emergency service district.

Officials present included: County Judge Byron Ryder, Commissioners Mark Ivey and David Ferguson, City Councilmembers Royce Dawkins, Dorothy Farmer and Tim Ezell, and former County Judge Robert Gresham.