For more than half dozen townships and villages in western Mahoning County, the news last week that "Med Corp Ambulance" in Ellsworth Township was leaving the area took local officials completely by surprise.
"Med Corp" now provides dispatching for most of the fire departments in the western half of the county. Harold Maynard is both a Milton Township Trustee, and the assistant fire chief there. He says local departments turned to Mahoning County's 911 system as their best option.
But after meeting with the County's Administrator and Prosecutor last night, the fire chiefs were told the county can't afford to take on the added dispatching load at this time.
One roadblock: the potential price tag. The county administrator says adding dispatchers to handle the extra call volume could cost about a quarter million dollars. Officials instead say they're trying to obtain services, at least temporarily, from neighboring communities that already dispatch their own departments. Prosecutor Paul Gains says "the fact of the matter is the county is concerned," adding officials are working "to do everything in their power."
But Maynard and others aren't so sure, saying county officials left them feeling "they have bigger fish to fry."
A meeting is planned this Wednesday evening between trustees, fire chiefs, commissioners and others to try and find that temporary solution. Prosecutor Gains tells us his main goal is to ensure service continues for those effected communities.
Meantime,trustee Maynard and several of the fire chiefs we spoke with today say they're hoping this situation serves as a wake-up call of sorts to take steps toward a unified dispatching service for the entire county.
Source:
http://www.wkbn.com/news/local/24529839.html
"Med Corp" now provides dispatching for most of the fire departments in the western half of the county. Harold Maynard is both a Milton Township Trustee, and the assistant fire chief there. He says local departments turned to Mahoning County's 911 system as their best option.
But after meeting with the County's Administrator and Prosecutor last night, the fire chiefs were told the county can't afford to take on the added dispatching load at this time.
One roadblock: the potential price tag. The county administrator says adding dispatchers to handle the extra call volume could cost about a quarter million dollars. Officials instead say they're trying to obtain services, at least temporarily, from neighboring communities that already dispatch their own departments. Prosecutor Paul Gains says "the fact of the matter is the county is concerned," adding officials are working "to do everything in their power."
But Maynard and others aren't so sure, saying county officials left them feeling "they have bigger fish to fry."
A meeting is planned this Wednesday evening between trustees, fire chiefs, commissioners and others to try and find that temporary solution. Prosecutor Gains tells us his main goal is to ensure service continues for those effected communities.
Meantime,trustee Maynard and several of the fire chiefs we spoke with today say they're hoping this situation serves as a wake-up call of sorts to take steps toward a unified dispatching service for the entire county.
Source:
http://www.wkbn.com/news/local/24529839.html