Texas City Council Drops Fire, EMS
Aug. 21--EDNA -- Edna City Council extended its agreement with Jackson County Emergency Services District No. 3 to provide its share of funding for area fire and emergency medical services for up to 90 days after Oct. 1.
After that, it becomes solely the district's responsibility.
What happens when the district takes over is not clear.
Council member Wayne Callis made a motion Thursday night to extend the agreement between the two governmental bodies. All council members except Doug Kelley voted for the extention.
But city and district leaders are not on the same page about what the vote means.
The city of Edna and District No. 3 share the responsibility of funding the approximately $1.1 million bill to fund a paid fire department and emergency medical services in the area. The city is looking to save money by removing its share of the cost.
Annually, the city contributes between $300,000 and $350,000, and the district contributes about $460,000 from taxes, while the city's Emergency Medical Service generates about $250,000. The district generates more than $600,000 from taxes. Alone, the district can't handle the cost.
Under a verbal proposal made weeks ago in a closed-door meeting, district representatives and Edna leaders agreed that the city would turn over everything required to run Edna's fire and emergency medical services with $200,000 from the city in the first year; $150,000 in the second, $100,000 in the third and $50,000 in the fourth year.
Accounts of the closed-door meeting differ.
"They didn't want to accept that (offer)," Callis said Thursday.
The fire department has been losing money, and its proposed budget for next year calls for more spending on salaries, which the city can't handle, the council member said.
Jake Srp, the district's chairman, said the offer was not rejected and it's one he will continue to support, although the City Council did not vote on it Thursday. Kelley said he also understood the action Thursday to mean that during the extention period, city leaders would work with the district on a transition plan.
The previous offer, which included the city giving funds to the district, isn't on the table anymore, Callis said.
"We're not going to give them anything," he said.
Supporters of a paid fire department came away with a similar outlook and understood the vote to mean that without city involvement, the department would be cut. The council meeting adjorned amid shouts from residents.
Kurt Janica, Edna's assistant fire chief, said he doesn't know what will happen next.
"Morale's down, and the employees aren't going to suffer as much as the community is," he said.
Copyright 2015 - Victoria Advocate, Texas
