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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2000-12-06, Page 22 -TME HURON EXPOSITOR. December S. 2000 News Dashwood's base not on list because of Exter distance From Pogo 120 Thames Road West is being looked at as both an interim and long-term location for the ambulance site. This location is a very large two bay garage.and office area. One bay is sufficient . to house two ambulances . various medical and oxygen storage, 'and sufficient room for vehicle and equipment cleaning. The lessor has proposed a lease amount of $24,0000` annually inclusive of utilities hut not snow removal. The location is 1.6 kilometres cast. of the intersection of -Airport Rd. and Dashwood - Exeter Rd. County Rd. 83. The site is • less than one minute travel time from the proposed long- term location near the intersection of Airport Road and the Dashwood -Exeter Rod. It can serve satisfactorily as along term location if negotiations are not successful for the proposed long term sites. or if -council decidesagainst building at the proposed sites. There are also two properties Concession 2, pan of lot 125, both in the Township of Stephen with one exiting onto Airport Rd. and the other exiting onto the Dashwood -Exeter Road. Both sites on lot 25 are less than a minute travel time from the Smith -Peat location. Either the Smith -Peat location or the lot 25 sites would be satisfactory for a long-term ambulance stations depending on lease versus . build costs amortized over a twenty to twenty -five year period. • . Two other locations proposed for the long term site were less desirable or not recommended including one site in the Township of Hay 4.4 km west of the Exeter boundary. adjacent to the landfill site, exits onto Dashwood -Exeter Road. -'The site is further west of the main concentration of high priority calls than is desirable'. Dashwood's existing ambulance station was also not recommended due to this distance from the main concentration of high priority calls in Exeter. The station which is 13 km. away from Exeter falls outside of the county's plan for where ambulance services should be provided. Wingham Both in the interim and the longterm for the next five years the current ambulance station located at the Wingham hospital -will be used. The hospital has offered the facility at a lease cost of $21.144 plus utilities. approximately $3200 per year. The facility is likely adequate for the next five years but the county should plan on replacement by 2006 as there is no apparent Opportunity for increasing the facility to three bays. • Goderich The current ambulance station adjacent to . the - hospital will be used as an interim site with some minor County ambulance decision was process started in 1997 County wanted decision made before final meeting with current councillors By Sarah Caldwell . • Goderkh Signal Star Staff • ' . Huron County council had its "final. say on land ambulance services in the co,unty on Nov. 30, deciding where interim stations would be located. . In .1997. _ihe provincial government announced that the county would become responsible for ambulance . services. both financial and managerial: -In -1998. the county ,assumed- 100 per' cent. of the cost, of providing. land ambulance services. Management responsibilities will be assumed by the county on Jan. 1.2001. • Based on recommendations from a consultingfirm. the county laced three possible options'.. for delivering the service. which included contracting ‘+ith the five. existing ambulance operators, providing. 'the service themselves ' making paramedics .. county employees, or, making a request for proposals to select an operator. The county chose to create a county department to look after 'ambulance . service themselves in December. In February they decided on a consultant to. suggest -howan ambulance service could best serve the needs of Huron County.. Working . with , Jon Hambides. representing .Marshall.' Macklin. Monoghan and Pomax Inc. to decide on an .Ambulance Deployment Strategy for 'Huron County administrators and councillors at the county level have been making decisions on how, to manage the service. In August the first decision that was made was' what system of; ambulance delivery should be used. where ambulance stations should be placed throughout the county to be most '• effective. The three options to chose from where to leave it alone. the equity model which guarenteeda 15 minute response time to every resident and reduced the number of stations from six to four. the third option the population density model reduced the number of ambulance stations from six to four placing stations in the most densely populated areas. In June, county council decided to pursue the population density model for ambulance services; The number of stations are being reduced from six to four. Dashwood and . Zurich stations are being amalgamated and moved closer to Exeter and the Clinton-Seaforth station is being amalgamated and moved between the two • .towns on Hwy. 8. Goderich. and Wingham, ambulance services would remain essentially the same. Since the county decided on the population density model they then put out a call •for proposals for properties to locate an ambulance station on and the county . staff' searched for county owned property that may also be suitable.. In September. county council reviewed the proposals submitted of people who were interested in leasing an ambulance station or- land. These proposals were reviewed by county council and proposals that didn't meet the locations of where the county wanted stations a's they were set out in the population density model were rejected. They then decided to do further study on the sites left on the list. With the end of the year approaching and a month left until the county takes over land ambulance services county council had to make a final decision about were to locate ambulance facilities. especially where interim stations. (stations that will be used until the new ones are built) will be located. Seeing -as Dashwood and Zurich and the Clinton and Seaforth stations don't fit into the county's model of where ambulance stations are to be located the county couldn't use these stations until the new ones were built or renovated in existing buildings. Final recommendations on interim station locations were decided at county council on Nov. 13 and possible long- term locations were narrowed down to direct the county administration which ones should be pursued further. Decisions about the interim stations had to be made at the Nov. 30 meeting because the final meeting of 2000is the inaugural session of the new Huron County council; elected in the Nov. 13 municipal election. DM Donnelly & Murphy Barristers & Solicitors We are pleased to announce Greg Stewart , juin Donnelly & Murphy on January 2001 Called to the bar in 1983'after completing studies at t hoc University of Windsor, Mr. Stewart was a partner with Bondy Riley Koski Stewart in Windsor. Mr. Stewart will continue his 18 year practice in municipal, labour and family law. 18 The Square. Goderich, Ontario Phone: (319) 524-2154 Fax: (519) 524-8550 email: adminedmlaw.on.ca A Tradition of Results upgrades. The location is unsuitable •as a long -tern location as it does not meet Ministry of Health standards. It it a priority to huila a new station as soon as possible. The hospital will Kase the station to the county for the cost of utilities. which was .$1560. Three proposals were put forward for the long term site. The first is located on Hwy. 2 I . across from Saltford Rd. (County Rd. 31), the Tiger Dunlop site. The second propoal. from Goderich' Alexandra Marine and General Hospital to build an ambulance station that connects to the hospital's emergency department. There were several concerns with -this proposal" and ,ii 'is considered as the last recommended option. The third option is to locate the ambulance.station across . froni .• AMGH's emergency department. termed as the SeIinger property this is the top orli.on the county has chosen to pursue. County council al:o passed a second recommendation to decide on whether u+ lease or purchase ambulance stations on an individual basis when the detailed proposals on - the longterm station location\ are brought forward for consideration. 71.ferrir Christmas At M`Gavin's Toyland We've got some great gift ideas for kids of all ages Only 15 shopping days 'til Christmas Save up to 25' on • EZEE-ROLL wagons • New Holland toy replicas • New Holland Tuff Trax Tikes • New Holland Pedal Tractors %4/INTERFI NEW HOLLAND It's finally here, our WINTERFIX SALE. Now is the time to book your farm equipment in for service. Our service team is ready. Limited Time Offer 1 O% off dealer. installed parts 10%, off labour Call Jeff to ensure these great savings Don't get caught...come in and check out our selection of new and used . snowblowers, arriving daily. • McGavin FARM SUPPLY LTD. FARM EQUIPMENT LTD. Walton, ON twraun (519) 887-6365 or (519) 527-0245 You could be a Winner! one of eight '7mrnp cmInj Chocolate everything Cookbook Winners to be announced Wednesday, Dec: 13/00 Huron Expositor Not only could you win this cookbook... you will also be helping the families of Huron County to be winners too. In last week's issue -df The Huron ` Expositor we inserted The Huron, County Christmas Bureau Bag brought toyou by community _minded businesses. Simply fill •the bag with children's new clothing or canned food and drop off at our office.. 11 Main St. Seaforth. We are open 9 to 5 Mon. to Fri. You may then fill outa ballot to, enter the Company's Coming "Chocolate everything" Cookbook draw. Eight winners will be announced in the Dec. 13th issue of The Huron Expositor: This Christmas be generous and you too could be a winner! Last day to enter the draw is Friday, Dec. 8 at 12 Noon. Note: Bags may also be dropped r off at the Seaforth Agriplex - this is the Seaforth location, for the Huron County Christmas Bureau. Working together for our communities. Huron' Ex � ositor E R\ 1\l, 111E (.RE 1 I I' R sI 11(R E 11 \RF.1 11 Main St., Seaforth S27-0240 Fax: 527-2858