ESD4 ambulance board installs new commissioners

Patrick Bourcier, newly named vice president of the Medina County Emergency Services Board No. 4, using a PowerPoint presentation showing the most recent ambulance calls made by the district. (Photo by Anton Riecher)

By Anton Riecher
With a full quorum of five commissioners seated for the first time in many months, the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 4 board of commissioners conferred on establishing goals for the coming year during its Jan. 14 meeting.
In the new board’s first major action, Brenda Butler, named as the new board secretary, was asked by board president Steve Smith to develop recommendations for an overall plan for better outreach to the public to communicate ESD4 activities.
“Each time, good or bad, something comes in from the field, we need to be able to get that out and communicate it right away and make sure (the public) understands what is going on,” Smith said. “If we screw something up, then we say ‘Hey, we messed this up, here is where we are at.’”
Butler, appointed to fill a temporary term last year, was named by the county commissioners to a full two-year term on the board. Joining her as new board members are Patrick Bourcier, a previous board member, and Debbie Randall, a former member of the Devine City Council.
Each board member was polled on what position they felt best suited to fill. Smith said he would like to continue for another term as board president.
“There are some things I’d like to get done over the next year that I don’t think I can do in another role,” Smith said.
In the end, each board member won appointment to the position they listed as their first choice. Bourcier said he felt he could contribute best in the vice president position.
“I’ve been involved in the ESD side of this since pretty much the beginning,” he said. “After reviewing the financial report I’ve got to tell you I was excited and happy. I’ve never seen a better set of financial reports.”
A financial report presented by board treasurer Patrick DuBose showed the ESD holding $1.027 million in funds, including $372,744 in money market accounts, $236,223 in operating funds, $126,280 in savings and $340,000 earned from property tax.
Sales tax…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!