ORIGINALLY WRITTEN MICHELLE AVIS
Marion County Commissioner Randy Dallke appeared before the Florence City Council Feb. 7 to discuss the acceptance of the Florence Ambulance Department into the county system.
The department will request a 10-year contract stating that equipment purchased by the Florence Ambulance Department will stay in Florence.
The council granted use of the ambulance building as long as it is needed. Plans for cutting back to one ambulance will still be carried out with the new ambulance to stay in Florence even if the department were to drop to first-responder status.
Money earned prior to the change will remain in the Florence Ambulance budget and the memorial fund would still only be used for outfitting the Florence ambulance.
“The service and dedication is going to stay the same as it’s been for the past 30 years,” said Ambulance Director Judy Creamer.
The crew would still be able to respond to emergencies outside the county but would also benefit from additional training available through the county Emergency Medical Services system.
The county attorney will review the information and draw up the preliminary contract.
In other business, the council:
— thanked everyone who volunteered their help clean up limbs around town following the January ice storm.
— heard that the fire department’s Sunday pancake feed was attended by more than 200 people who donated a total of $2,200. Community members were thanked for attending and supporting the fund-raiser.
— heard that court time will be moved from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 23.
— heard City Superintendent Ken Hoffman’s latest report on the water filtration plant. What was apparently a short in the system had been causing problems unable to be diagnosed until solenoids were individually removed and tested to find the malfunctioning part.
— will follow up with a Wichita company requesting payment after delivering generators arrived nine hours after electricity was restored during the ice storm and the order had been cancelled.
— tabled the issue of purchasing a used chlorinator as backup for the one currently in use, which is a type no longer being manufactured.
— tabled the issue of repairs needed for a mower and one of the city sewer pumps.
— will research whether easements permit a driveway to be built to a home from Eighth Street.
— heard that the next town meeting had been set for Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Senior Center. Cookies and tea will be served and several people who have volunteered for various projects will be recognized for their help.
— swore in Hoffman as Hillcrest Cemetery Sexton.
— broke for a 15-minute executive session after which it was announced that about $11,000 in Federal Emergency Management Agency grant money would be distributed for contract labor in log jam abatement. It was also decided that police officers would receive a raise of between 50 cents and $1 per hour.
