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Letter to Carroll County's commissioners

Sorry you could not attend the meeting last week; I think you would have appreciated the attendance and thoughts of the Jefferson Township citizens.

It is our feeling that Carroll County is being unfair to Jefferson Township in regards to our ambulance service. As taxpayers we deserve the same coverage as those living closer to Delphi and Flora. To achieve that goal and stay within our financial confines we believe the best answer is to hire Monticello Ambulance to cover us.

At this point talking about mutual aid is not even a realistic discussion, we have nothing to offer Monticello or any of the other counties surrounding Carroll as we don't have enough ambulances or manpower to cover Carroll County.

The most important part of mutual aid is the word mutual. I realize that the surrounding counties have been helping us out but let's be realistic how long till they find out helping us is a one-way street? It is time to stop expecting charity from our neighbors and start paying our own way.

The numbers to pay Monticello compared to the cost of a chase vehicle are not even close. The lost revenue to Carroll County does not even come into play as you would have to spend more than you would make at this point. It is not worth one life to hold out for free service from someone. Let's pay our neighbor for their service now in the hope that in a year or two we can afford to provide Jefferson Township with the barn at Yeoman again.

Mayor Thompson of Monticello said he would be willing to work on a year-to-year contract, that would make it possible to go back to Carroll County service quickly if we become solvent enough to do that.

We would like to know why EDIT funds are not being looked at in this matter. If we understand them correctly, they can be used at the county's discretion to enhance the economic development of the county. An ambulance barn in Yeoman would make it a better area to live in, bringing more people into the area, filling some of the vacant homes and bringing in taxes. No one wants to move to an area where you are not afforded help in a medical emergency. It was proposed that the ambulance barn be tied in with a community center, that in itself would be economic development for this area.

Treena and Mike Milligan Monticello (Carroll County)