With the March Primaries a little over a week away, DeWitt County voters have an opportunity this week to attend an informational meeting on one of the key issues on the ballot.
The ambulance referendum still has many questions as we approach the vote. Ambulance Manager at the Dr. John Warner Hospital Terrence Hubbard has been gathering information with Clinton Mayor Carolyn Peters on what would be the best future option for DeWitt County. As a result, a County wide tax levy of point-25 percent has been proposed by the DeWitt County Board and Hubbard has been working to establish preliminary plans should the referendum pass to establish a non-for profit ambulance entity to service DeWitt County.
As a result, Hubbard says he has run into a lot of misconceptions in his time talking to concerned residents about the referendum and post-referendum. The most common misconception is some how the Dr. John Warner Hospital will find themselves back in the ambulance business and Hubbard stresses that is not the case.
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The DeWitt County Board has not been very vocal about their future plans for the referendum. However, Hubbard says the Board is not completely in the dark. He has been in contact with them receiving feedback. While they have been less than proactive to this point to put information out regarding the issue, Hubbard says they have been interacting with him on his plans and their plans.
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Should the referendum pass and the DeWitt County Board then approves bringing in a non-for profit group to service DeWitt County with ambulance services, what will it cost exactly to the tax payers? Hubbard explains any service that comes in will still be supported by bills they send out. He says the levy will pay for any other expenses left after those bills. Hubbard estimates the non-profit entity would need around $500-thousand. He says that figure is based on what the hospital's current expenses are to run the ambulance service. He believes he can run the ambulance service for that figure, and possibly maybe more efficiently.
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Hubbard will be at the Warner Library Wednesday evening beginning at 5:30. He will have information on hand and will be available to answer any questions DeWitt County residents, or even those outside of DeWitt County may have. He says it will be a question & answer type of format and anyone interested is welcome to come and go as they please. Hubbard says they will be there if need be until the close of the Library, which will be 9 pm.
