News

Texas City Delays Action in Fire, EMS Funding Debate

Johnathan Silver

08/07/2015

Aug. 07--EDNA -- A reluctant Edna City Council chose to have a budget workshop before making a decision about the future of the city's fire and emergency medical services.

The question Thursday night was whether the City Council would vote to ease the Jackson County Emergency Services District No. 3 over four years into being financially responsible for Edna's fire and emergency medical services, which cost a little more than $1 million a year.

Currently, the city and the district share the costs, but the city of Edna is looking to prioritize maintenance issues, including new electronic meters and a sewage system.

Thursday, trying to move closer to a budget solution, the mayor and council members struggled with each other and with residents about how to move forward.

City Manager Don Doering read the motion the council would have considered. The words echoed the verbal proposal district commissioners reported to the public during its Wednesday meeting: The city would turn over all equipment, personnel responsibilities and everything required to operate 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.

Council member Doug Kelley suggested continuing city funding of fire and emergency medical services for $275,000 for one year, giving city and district leaders more time to sort out the budget.

If decisions have to come now, the city should find $50,000 to cut to make the $275,000 funding possible, Doering said. The cut could be made from other areas such as funding for a new police vehicle, Kelley said.

"It's a no-brainer," he said.

For the district to take full responsibility, it would have to make major cuts because it brings in about $600,000 a year from property taxes. Eliminating the paid fire department is not an option district commissioners said they would consider, but it's an open question with the council. And whether the emergency medical services financial responsibility would be placed on the local hospital remains an open question as well.

Grumbles and applause followed residents who spoke to council members. Firefighter Aaron Janssen drew the most applause.

"Being a family man and a large contributor to my family's budget, I understand the need for balance. I understand the need to make cuts in areas to make the numbers work," he said. "But not one time have I ever considered eliminating the roof over our heads that provides my family with a sense of security, protection and comfort."

Janssen typically works eight 24-hour shifts a month with PHI Air Medical and part time with the Edna Fire Department five or six times a month. Before, he used to work for the Victoria Fire Department.

"I want to see the city continue to partner with ESD," Janssen said.

Firefighter and paramedic Terry Jordan posed a series of questions to the council.

He asked how the city would provide 24-hour ambulance coverage with the fire department and what its financial responsibilities would be going forward.

Response from the council members was almost nonexistent, except when Kelley chimed in and answered some of the questions.

When members were pressed by Jordan, other speakers and seated residents to answer questions, the mayor and council members replied throughout the meeting they need more time to get on the same page before moving forward.

"Let us have a chance," Mayor Joe Hermes said. "Let us work it out."

Jordan said council members should have had answers before the meeting. They're dealing with people's livelihood, he said.

District commissioner DJ Bell said he left the meeting without seeing much progress.

"I feel that we still are wasting valuable time, but at least it gives City Council another chance to review the numbers," he said.

Most people at the meeting supported keeping a paid fire and emergency medical service intact.

"The public's going to have to keep coming to the meetings and voicing their opinions on what they as a community want and know what is right," Janssen said.