By Anton Riecher
In one of two major initiatives pending on emergency response in Devine, the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 4 board of commissioners voted Friday to contract with Castroville-based MCESD No. 1 for local ambulance service, replacing Allegiance Mobile Health.
ESD4 board president Steve Smith said placing ambulance and fire protection under one command structure had become a continuing bone of contention for residents.
“Do we want to see those operations combined as a community or do we want to leave it as is?” he said
On a motion by board treasurer Patrick DuBose, the ESD4 board approved the new contract with ESD1 by a 2-1 vote with one-time board president Anthony Martin voting against the move. Current board president Steve Smith abstained from the vote.
Of the three proposals for ambulance service under consideration, the lowest was Allegiance maintaining its current cost at $212,000 annually. The ESD1 proposal asks for $250,000 a year, not including costs specific to combining ESD 2 and 4 operations under joint administration.
Merging ESD 2 and 4 operations under the administration of a battalion chief serving directly beneath ESD1 Chief Clint Cooke involves an estimated cost of $110,000 annually.
A third proposition submitted by Hondo-based Community EMS doubled the…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!
