[January 07, 2009]

Ambulance provider set

Jan 07, 2009 (The Valley Independent - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP -- The community has a new ambulance service provider.
Supervisors Jamie Miller and Chuck Yusko approved a one-year lease for Greene County-based Emergency Medical Services Southwest.

Rostraver-West Newton Emergency Services Inc. had served the township for the last six years.
Rostraver-West Newton moved in after the Internal Revenue Service froze the assets and filed a tax lien against long-time provider Community Ambulance Service.

CAS closed and left behind the building it had constructed on township-owned property.
After the shutdown, Rostraver-West Newton occupied the former CAS building.
In June, following a dispute over rent and claims Rostraver-West Newton did not properly maintain the building, the supervisors ordered the service to vacate the facility.

Rostraver-West Newton agreed to serve the township until February.
Supervisor Joanne Latkanich opposed the Southwest appointment, claiming a contract should have been finalized before a service was named.

Latkanich said she was happy with Rostraver-West Newton.
"That is very poor business judgment," she said of the Emergency Medical Services Southwest appointment. "There's no lease agreement drawn up, and they don't know what they're going to charge for rent. And how many hours are they physically going to be in the township?

"Jamie and Chuck, they didn't even care that there was a petition from residents ... against kicking Rostraver (-West Newton) out. They didn't even look at it. Rostraver was a good ambulance service."

Miller said Tuesday that Southwest will occupy the former police office and a vehicle bay in the municipal building.

"We had to ask our solicitor to make up a lease," Miller said. "We couldn't do that prior, because we did not know who was going to be in. We had to vote last night to see which way to go."

Southwest was one of two services that expressed interest in serving the township. Fayette EMS was the other.

Miller said she chose Southwest because "it's time for a change."
She said the company serves Perryopolis and also could respond from that station, if necessary.
Miller said contract details will be announced at the Jan. 14 public meeting. Yusko was not available for comment.

In an unrelated matter, Miller and Yusko voted to do away with special meeting pay for supervisors. Latkanich opposed the move.

Miller said the motion was made because some special meetings last only a few minutes, and she and Yusko felt that does not warrant payment.

Under the previous policy, supervisors were entitled to $100 per special meeting. Miller said she and Yusko have never taken the money.

Miller is in her second year on the board. Yusko has been a supervisor for three years.
Miller and Yusko passed a resolution limiting supervisors to $150 per month in health insurance benefits. Latkanich voted no.

The supervisors reorganized.
Yusko will remain as chairman, roadmaster and head of the police committee.
Miller will remain as vice chairwoman, assistant roadmaster and assistant on the police committee.
Meetings will continue to be 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the social hall, located at 1392 Fayette Ave.

Jeff Pikulsky can be reached at jpikulsky@tribweb.com or .
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