Council quizzes city ambulance provider
BY GLORIA JENNINGS

Dave Taylor, director of business development at East Texas Medical Center, discussed ambulance service with members of the Rusk City Council Thursday evening.

He was accompanied to the meeting by Mignon Adams, who works with billing for the ambulance service.

Mr. Taylor invited the council to tour the ambulance offices in Tyler.

"As you know we are involved in our ambulance membership drive and we are here to answer any questions you might have," he said.

Councilmember Kris Morgan asked what happens when an ambulance is taken from Rusk and sent to Alto and Wells. "Is another one sent in, or are we without an ambulance?"

Mr. Taylor assured the council that an ambulance is brought to Rusk when its ambulance is sent elsewhere.

Councilman Sam Florian asked how an ambulance is automatically brought into

a community. "How are we guaranteed that Rusk will have an ambulance; and will Alto when that ambulance is sent to Wells?"

"I was coming back from Houston and I noticed that there was an ambulance parked mid-way between Rusk and Alto. What happens if there is a call to Alto and another to Wells?"

Mr. Taylor said ambulances in the network are shifted. An ambulance in Jacksonville is sent to Rusk and Bullard's ambulance to Jacksonville.

Mr. Florian addressed the membership dues and questioned charges made to persons who have no insurance.

The new EMS charges are free to members who have insurance. Those with no insurance pay 60 percent of their ambulance cost and the other is absorbed by ETMC because of their membership in the program.

Memberships in the ambulance program are $60 per household annually or $5 monthly.

Dues are collected on city water bills.

If a non-relative lives in a household with an ambulance membership that non-relative is not covered with the household membership.

In other matters the council approved a contract between the Rusk Economic Development Corporation and the Chamber of Commerce for the remainder of the budget year. This contract became necessary after the Economic Development Corporation became a 4B entity instead of a 4A corporation. The contract is for the period from July 17 to Sept. 30.

The council approved a potential project and or performance agreement with Etech Inc. for the 4B corporation. The corporation will grant $350,000 to Etech Inc. of which $250,000 will be loans to be repaid in five years. The other $100,000 is a forgivable loan if Etech meets requirements of the contract. Plans are to bring 200 new jobs to the Rusk market.

A dress code for city employees was approved at the meeting.

In his report City Manager Mike Murray said the new water well should be completed in approximately six weeks. Work at the civic center is progressing and should be finished in two weeks. "This building will hold approximately 500 persons. Jan Pate, contractor, is doing a fine job," he said.

A brief budget workshop followed the meeting. The council is considering using a 48.96 cent tax rate to finance the new budget. The new rate is the same as was used in last year's budget. Exact amount of the budget has not been determined.

Attending the meeting were Mayor Pro-tem Walter Session, who presided in the absence of Mayor Angela Raiborn; Councilmembers Morgan, Don Jones, Donald Woodard and Mr. Florian; City Manager Murray; and City Secretary Fran Wendeborn.

Mrs. Raiborn's husband was injured last week when a loaded gun accidentally fired and hit him in the face. He is now at home and a full recovery is expected.