911, jail budgets approved, other business tabled
PRESCOTT – Aside from approving budgets for 911 and the jail, most business was tabled by the Nevada County Quorum Court at its January meeting Tuesday.
The meeting started with Lori White and Heidi Hile, with the Air Evac Life Team, talking about the benefits of being members of the business – a helicopter ambulance service. White said the county could cover all its employees for $65 a year each, and this would include everyone in each employees’ household. The average air evacuation flight, she told the court, costs around $44,000 and insurance pays very little of it. Blue Cross Blue Shield, she continued, will pay $5,000 for an air evac and $1,000 for an ambulance ride, which is basically nothing compared to the overall cost.
White said Air Evac has 335 bases in the nation, making it the largest in America. For Nevada County, the nearest base is in DeQueen, but a helicopter could be on side in roughly 30 minutes. She added there are also more than 900 members currently living in Nevada County. The best thing, she told the court, is members won’t have any out-of-pocket expense if Air Evac’s services are required.
Hile, a registered nurse and former flight nurse who’s now the program director, said the business started in the 1980s with the purpose of putting helicopters in rural communities. Air Evac has 10 bases in Arkansas. She told the court the company will come on an early evacuation call for emergencies such as cardiac events, strokes or wrecks, but if its services aren’t needed, the chopper will return to base at no cost to the member.
Someone is at the office 24/7, she said, to take calls. Hile said people can register for the service on-line, but there’s a two-week waiting period.
Nevada County Judge Mark Glass said if the county offered this to all employees it would cost $4,550.
White explained the employees would have to pay for it individually and be reimbursed by the county as Air Evac can’t accept a check from the county because it’s considered a business. Until the regulations were changed this past June, though, this wouldn’t have been an issue.
Hile pointed out there are helicopter services in Hot Springs and Texarkana, but the Air Evac policy doesn’t cover their services. It was pointed out a member can specifically request Air Evac, or have someone in their family make the request if they’re unable to.
This was tabled to allow the county time to talk with employees and determine if it’s something they want or not.
Discussion on charging for garbage pickup was also tabled, as was any action on helping the Nevada County Fair Association build new bleachers at the rodeo arena.
However, Chris Fore said Anthony Lumber has agreed to sell lumber at employee cost to the county and would deliver it, but someone would have to be on-site to unload it. This was tabled until it’s determined how much wood will be needed and what it will cost.
There was discussion on the vicious dog issue, but it amounted to nothing as the situation in Bodcaw has already been taken care of. Glass told the court of this, adding this was also the first time in his eight years as county judge the issue has come up.
He told the court if it happens again, Nashville’s animal control officer will come and get the dog in question, or if they aren’t available, Chris Hopper with the City of Prescott’s Sanitation Department will get the dog and hold it until Nashville can pick it up.
From there the court went all over the map talking about the legalities involved, whether or not an officer would go with Hopper to pick up dogs and whether or not some sort of legal paperwork would be required. They were told no action would be taken until directed by the court.
Glass said he was only telling the court the county has a place for the dogs to be held if there’s another issue.
JP Bob Cummings said Centurylink is officially out of its building on Hwy. 19 and the county can now get a sale price from the owner. This is one of the possible locations for the county extension office to be relocated. The other is the Barkin’ Barn, across from the county jail and courthouse.