A divorce is in order.
An undercurrent that frequently swirls to the surface when discussion turns to a new hospital for Allen County is the duplicative ambulance service of the county and Iola.
Both have to do with health care, but beyond that they are separate issues.
They should be di-vorced and neither should be permitted to interfere with the other.
A new hospital would provide vastly improved facilities to deliver all phases of health care.
As was noted in this column Monday, a new hospital would continue to be a major employer and contributor to the county’s economy. Also, a new hospital would be an important component of economic development efforts, one of several things that we could point to when encouraging businesses and in-dustries, as well as new residents.
The pluses for a new hospital are many, and with the only local public support being a sales tax of either a quarter or half cent, affordability shouldn’t be a profound concern.
AMBULANCE service in Allen County has gone through several changes since it was a ward of funeral homes long ago.
For many years Iola, Humboldt, Moran and the county had an agreement that provided the service, with substantial funding coming from the county in the way of subsidies and equipment stationed in each of the cities.
About five years ago, county commissioners decided to provide a higher level of service, with a paramedic on board for every response. When it became evident Allen County meant to take over the service in full measure, Iola petitioned the state Board of Emergency Medical Services and was given permission to maintain a service of its own.
County commissioners Gary McIntosh and Rob Francis were elected two years ago partly on the promise they would strike a deal with Iola again to have one ambulance service in the county.
Negotiations failed.
Now, we have single ambulances stationed in Humboldt and Moran and four — two county and two city — in Iola, dispatched from stations about four blocks apart. Iola ambulances answer all calls in Iola, the county’s all others.
A PREPONDERANCE of citizens think we should have one service, that having four ambulances in Iola is wasteful.
At some point negotiations to solve “the ambulance problem” will re-open and hopefully resolution will occur, but for the time being let’s think about the future of all in Allen County and concentrate on fully understanding the compelling need for a new hospital. Then, go to the polls on Nov. 2 and approve the minuscule increase in the county sales tax so that a modern, comprehensive hospital may be built.
— Bob Johnson
