Dear Editor:
White River Township would like to clarify our past, current and future position of emergency services with Cicero Fire Department (CFD).
Over the last 30 years, CFD has provided ambulance service to White River residents in the form of a memorandum of understanding and received compensation for services rendered. The only discussion with Cicero was in August 2017 when it was stated that there would need to be an increase in compensation paid by White River for ambulance services provided by Cicero. Budgets for 2018 must be received to the county and state officials by July 31 each year and White River officials knew this would be a problem to make changes (increases) in their budget.
While White River is aware of rising costs to healthcare, the timing of this discussion made it impossible to make budgetary changes with the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF). To be proactive with this potential rise in ambulatory costs, our officials made requests to Cicero on Sept. 20, 2017 for data to help us better evaluate our current position and be able to make an educated response for increasing this budget.
The township board discussed the request that was sent at their regular meeting later that day, Sept. 20, 2017, and agreed they needed more information to evaluate future needs for the township. A letter was sent the first of October 2017 to request run data sheets for our township; an email on Oct. 18, 2017 was received that Cicero was working on the request. A registered letter arrived on Dec. 6, 2017 stating that the Cicero Town Board will discuss termination of ambulance services to White River Township on Dec. 19, 2017. White River board was invited to attend, but Cicero will not allow any discussion by White River.
The board met the following day, Dec. 20, 2017, to discuss the termination of emergency services effective Jan. 1, 2018. Services will be rendered until June 30, 2018. The timing of this termination cripples White River Township from establishing its own ambulance services for the rest of 2018 and possibly 2019. Tax levies cannot be raised to compensate for adequate ambulance services in such a short amount of time.
White River was not given an opportunity to negotiate a higher compensation for services and requests for run data were ignored, and still to this date have never been produced. Cicero did not initiate any meetings to discuss what increase they were requesting. They simply terminated services. With many outdoor recreational activities in White River Township including Koteewi Park, Lafayette Trace and the White River, what message does it send to our neighbors all over the county and even further that there are no emergency services for these events?
As one of the most rural townships left in Hamilton County, we strive to keep taxes low while maintaining the best services for our residences and guests. Maintaining an agreement with compensation for ambulance services with Cicero Fire Department has been a cost-effective way for our residents to have emergency services when needed while keeping the township fiscally responsible in the management of the funds of our taxpayers. We were open to finding a workable resolution with Cicero that would continue a long-term, established relationship of more than 30 years. The township trustee, board and fire chiefs of White River will continue to seek the best alternatives we can for residents and guests of our township while keeping the fiscal responsibility that voters had when electing them at the forefront of discussions for the future of ambulance services.
Sincerely,
Jamie Rulon, Trustee
Board Members:
Donna Gentry
Charles Burkhardt
- Suzanne Flanders