Another forum
March 9th, 2007 by 
Alica
If you didn’t have a chance to make it to Wednesday’s public forum on the proposed city ambulance ordinance, you have another chance next Wednesday. The Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and the Brandon Valley Challenger will sponsor the March 14 forum at the Brandon Valley Middle School media center, beginning at 7 p.m.
The forum will be moderated with a panel of four people, two for each side of the issue.
Council members have said the goal is to get more highly-trained emergency personnel than there are now on the scene faster than they do now.
If you don’t think this is necessary, vote no on April 10. But even if you think this is necessary, that doesn’t mean you should automatically vote yes. You still need to take another step.
You need to read the proposed city ordinance and the county ordinance it would replace. You can find the propsed city ordinance, and directions on how to find the county ordinance, in other posts in the “Ambulance” category on this blog.
Yes, I know the ordinances are long and might be boring to read. But someone’s life might depend on how well you educate yourself before you vote on this ordinance.
Once you have read and compared both ordinances, you still may have questions. I did. Ask those questions next Wednesday at the forum. Or ask them here on this blog. Or call your city council representative.
Then, on April 10, you will be able to make an educated vote on whether you think this ordinance will accomplish the goal of better and faster service, or if you think it won’t.
Posted in Uncategorized, Ambulance | 
March 9th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
This is your one time to vote what you feel is right for our city. Vote on what Ordinance 381 actually says and not by the presumed changes the council is eluding to. This is your one chance to stop a bad ordinance. If this is voted in, the council will make changes they deem necessary and you will have no say. The previous ordinance (286) followed state and county guidelines and had a review system set up at no or minimal cost to the city. This was repealed October 19, 2004. Our council has worked on this for over 2 years and waits until it has been challenged to realize that it is not ‘just’ right.
Our city council has shown their hand and have hand picked Jay Maser to serve our city. Do you really feel his service is higher qualified than Rural Metro?
Vote NO April 10th
March 9th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
An added note regarding the review system for the county guidelines already in place. Rural Metro (our present carrier) is reviewed by REMSA at NO CHARGE to the city or citizens of Brandon. It is a 2 board system consisting of a layperson board and a panel of physicians. These people meet EVERY month to do reviews. How much do you think it would cost our city for 5 physicians to meet every month? Brandon will have to hire a board and pay for it if we opt out of Rural Metro. Quality review by an independant panel (not internal)is a MUST.
March 10th, 2007 at 11:19 am
I have read numerous comments about the ambulance ordinance, attended meetings both at the city and the last forum and feel compelled to make a comment.
I hear alot of people talking about how porly the ordinance is written, yes it needs work there is no doubt about that. No one on the city council will disagree with that. What we have is an ordinance that as I see it was intended to help improve the standard of living in Brandon. We are a community that is growing at a rate that requires a proactive council. I commend the council for taking the action they have to write our own ordinance. Brandon does not need to rely on the county to set our standards for anything. We need this ordinance, everyone is making it a personal thing for or against Rural Metro or Med Star. I don’t care who is the provider for our city, we need this for our selves for the future of Brandon.
People think that if they vote yes, they are stuck with the verbage as written now. I as a council member swear that no bids will be taken until this ordinance is cleaned up. I am not alone in this thought on the council. This issue is far to important for the well being of the citezens of Brandon to not act now. We can apoint a committee, not council members, but citezens with a medical back ground to help fine tune the ordinance before it goes out for bidding.
Mistakes have been made, by the council, by city administration and by the citizens of Brandon. The council will take steps to change the way they do things concerning ordinances. Administration wise, perhaps cleaning house is in store. For the citezens of Brandon, this could of been handled if people would taken more interest in there city government by attending council meetings every now and then. This ordinace has been talked about for the last two years. If people had concerns, why were they not expressed at council meetings.
We need to progress to the point where we as a city are self sufficient, ie; having our fire department providing these services. We have to take stepes toward that goal, this is the first step.
In stead of fighting about MAY or SHALL we need to do what is right for everyone in Brandon.
I probably will have shot myself in the foot as for my election, but I care to much about Brandon to not make these comments.
People of Brandon do what is right.
March 10th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
THE COUNCIL IS STILL ASKING THE PEOPLE TO VOTE ON AN ORDINANCE THAT HAS ERRORS! You swear no bids will be taken before it’s “cleaned up” I’ll take that in writing.
IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE to vote on an ordinance that has errors!
What is so wrong with taking the next year to write an ordinance with no errors????? Why the rush?? Let’s do it right and save ourselves the headaches.
No one mentioned Med-Star until the council chose to put their name on the mailing….you opened that door. It most certainly is not a personal thing for or against Rural Metro or Med Star! If Med Star can fullfill the requirements of the old ordinance in it’s entirety. I’m all for it.
How is hiring another service taking the step of our volunteer service providing these services?? If Med Star (or whoever) is doing medical calls there will be no need for them except in the instance of back up.
No one is fighting over the stupid MAY or SHALL words, that’s the understatement of the year the council is trying to sell. There are NUMEROUS issues with this ordinance. How many times do people have to say it before the council understands it’s MORE THAN ONE WORD IN QUESTION.
I’ve been “passionate” about this post but I am frustrated about what’s NOT being addressed with this issue. I’m sure I won’t be getting elected any time soon either. I hope people do what is right too. Vote NO
March 10th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Bob,
Your post has not convinced me that voting yes on the proposed ordinance is the right thing to do. There is still a month left before the election, though, which gives us time for much discussion. Maybe folks will discover that there is more common ground than they first realized.
You made several good points in your post.
You talk about community growth. People who study development have predicted Brandon will be the third largest city in the state within 20 years. So yes, we have to be thinking now about how we are going to serve 15,000 to 20,000 people or more. Even before we get that big, we probably are going to need a paid rescue staff and other enhancements. Just think. It took two years to write the proposed ordinance, which apparently needs to be sent back for a rewrite. We can’t afford to wait until the city tops 10,000 or 12,000 people before we start thinking about this.
I agree that it’s not important who the city’s contracted emergency services provider is, or even if there is more than one licensed service, as long as an agreed-upon standard of quality is required. After hearing the discussion so far, it appears to me as though the standard of quality the proposed ordinance would require is at issue here. It appears that while the proposal may require improved service in some areas, it also may relax standards in other areas.
People need to realize that any city law can be changed at any time, as long as the process required by state law is followed. This is necessary so city laws can be relevant during changing times. I like your idea of having a committee of medically-trained people review the ordinance. If that happens, I suggest you also include a person with a good English composition background. After all, something as simple as a misplaced comma can change the meaning of a sentence.
Lastly, you are correct that more citizens should take an interest in their city government during the process and not merely after the fact.
I’m looking forward to Wednesday’s forum and further discussion.
March 11th, 2007 at 11:28 am
Commenting on Bob Serk…He mentions that he hears people talking about how poorly the ordinance is written. Has he even looked at the other two ordinances that we already had in place before this empty ordinance came out? I’d advise everyone to get copies of them and read through them thoroughly.
The ordinance is exactly as written, and that’s what we’ll be voting on April 10th, 2007. Within the first reading (on Feb. 21st, 2006)and the second reading 10 months later, no one found any “may” or “shall” mistakes. At the following meetings the minutes were approved, and nowhere was this error to be found. Didn’t they read it before it was signed? I read everything before I sign, making sure all my i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed. This blame game doesn’t cut it.
You’re wrong in saying we don’t have to rely on the county to set our standards. That’s why we have this empty-tailor-made, push-it-down-our-throats- ordinance. I get the feeling that you five council members don’t want to follow the county regulations, which are better. I find this very suspicious.
As for appointing a commitee, been there, done that! (Didn’t you read that report either!?) The committee of four, including 2 doctors, 1 nurse, and 1 lawyer said put your money into your first responders.
Bidding? Who do you think the council is fooling!? Remember the brochure that you sent out backing Jay Masur? It was the council’s response, and at first glance, one could deduce that the council had fully aligned themselelves with Mr. Masur and MedStar…an ambulance service that isn’t even licensed by our Minnehaha county!? Again, kinda sketchy.
Cleaning house is definitely in order. So when will the citizens of Brandon hear what they need to hear? That all five of you are resigning due to laziness, inability to read, conflict of interest, ego, and just bad governing!
If people would have showed up at council to voice their concerns over this ordinance, would they have been heard? It doesn’t seem very likely, by past
behavior of this council. Overall, you’re right. People should get involved in their city at all times, not just when they’re the only ones being affected.
If one should happen to shoot themselves in the foot, thank God for our First Responders, they’ll have you bandaged and well on your way to the hospital within minutes.
March 11th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
I feel that the community needs to know that the flier that was sent to the community dealing with the ordinance was not endorsed by the council. That was an act of council person Brett Karber. He chose to put his name on the information, but it was not agreed upon by the entire council.
March 11th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Hmmm, Mr. Karber stated at the forum that it was the consensus of the council, maybe not all of them but the consensus. The definition of consensus = the majority of opinion.
Then why did the council let him do it. Once again…..this is not an impartial council. Conflict of interest.
March 14th, 2007 at 5:05 am
Well Citizens of Brandon you can all rest much easier now that all the issues have been addressed by the City councils special meeting Monday night. The members managed to find a way to fix the errors since last Wednesday night when the only way to correct the ordinance was to tweak after it been put into law.
First Fix: The city now has the option to hire a medical doctor having staff privileges at a major trauma center hospital in Sioux Falls (no concern for costs) – but the new ambulance company can have a general practice physician licensed in the state of SD. I compare this to buying a $150,000 car– If repairs are need do you believe the mechanic from the dealer with the special training and expertise on the model line will better be prepared to repair your car or are you going take to a general practice mechanic.
Second Fix: Law or Fire can now request a backup provider if Med-star is not available Oh sorry the contracted Ambulance service without any penalties and only in the event of a natural disaster in the case the contracted ambulance can not respond.
Just a few issues still not addressed in the ordinance include response times, record keeping, medical director, quality control, and criteria for awarding the ambulance contract. But per the meeting anything not specifically addressed in the ordinance will fall back to the County and REMSA standards. So I guess if this ordinance fails we go back to county rules and the council can then work a compressive unbiased ordinance. Please do not think for one second that I am against an ambulance provider stationed in Brandon but reliability, quality and reputations make the top of my list not just location. This is one time location, location, and locations are not the only things to consider.
If interested refer to an article from the Aberdeen paper toting the addition of third ambulance service in Aberdeen. Med-star came roaring into to town in October of 2006 promising all the same things promised last Wednesday night (3/7/07) – But if you paid attention to the infomercial from Jay Masur - they are only in Huron and Brandon now– I did not hear Aberdeen. This leaves a big question in my mind and hopefully yours too.
I hate the feeling I’m getting about City council of Brandon – scare tactics and distrust for the city leaders of Brandon. So Sorry Boys but I am not interested in your friends ambulance service with no real rules or guidelines – my families life is too important to risk on your friendship or your personal interest.
March 21st, 2007 at 7:51 am
I have been reading these posts and I feel that I have to respond. Has any of who who are so against an ambulance service in town had to wait over 20 minutes for rural metro to come? We have, believe me, its a long wait! I know this isn’t supposed to be about Med-Star, but everyone is making it about him. I was down at Med Star getting my CPR ceritfication a couple of weeks ago (which by the way, he did for free) and I got a tour of his building and rigs. It was nothing but clean, neat and very orgainzed. Have any of you that are so against this, been down there to talk to Jay about your concerns? I talked at length to Jay and he said that the NO ONE that is against him has contacted him with questions or concerns. He said he would be happy to give anyone who wants a tour of his rigs. I would ask people if they have any concerns or questions for Jay and Med-Star to contact him. I did, and he was nothing but professional. He educated me alot on this issue. I will be voting YES on the ordiance because time is a issue. Also, as much as I love our vounteer fireman, their hands are tied in a lot of situations when they are called out. They can’t even start an IV!! Why would we as a community not want someone at our door in less than 5 minutes who can start a line and give our loved ones the pain medications that they need?? I feel that any ambulance service that came to town will have a hard time. I have asked MANY firemen if another company besides Med Star came to town, would they support it. ALL of them said “we have great response times in Brandon” That is not what I wanted to hear. If this about giving our citizens the best care and not about who is going to get to the scene first, they would be for this ordiance in my opinion. Vote YES!! My family deseves the same care as the people in Sioux Falls gets!!