Special meetings upcoming for county wide EMS discussion

The Logan County Board of County Commissioners will hold three special meetings throughout the county to discuss Emergency Medical Services.

The commissioners will seek public input when it comes to ambulance services.

The primary topics will include Guthrie EMS, which is responding to medical calls outside of their district (Guthrie Public School district) and Crescent EMS, who stopped responding to calls within their own district on Oct. 26.

The tax districts, which includes the school districts of Guthrie, Crescent and Cashion, pay three mills on their ad valorem taxes. That money is collected from the county and in return paid to the EMS entities. However, residents outside of the three school districts do not pay the ad valorem tax, but receive ambulance services. Related story: Video: Should all Logan County residents pay for EMS services?

Meanwhile, Crescent is currently depended on Guthrie EMS to serve their district after voting to shut down. The EMS board did not surrender their state license, but are out of compliance with the state. Related story: No plan revealed for ambulance service in Crescent; last day set for Monday

The first meeting is set for Nov. 17 in District I at the Seward Road Baptist Church (located at 4801 W Seward Rd.). Start time is set for 6:30 p.m.

Immediately following the meeting, the county’s public trust will hold a second meeting concerning the Mercy Hospital Surgery Center operation. Currently, the hospital is without an operating room after being closed down. In the five-year agreement with the county, the operating room was to remain open. However, it was shut down in February. Related story: Mercy Hospital Logan County closes surgery unit

The second meeting to be held in District 3 is set for Nov. 19 at the Crescent Community Center (525 E. Van Buren) at 6:30 p.m.

The final special meeting will be held in District 2 on Dec. 1 at the Coyle Public School cafeteria (700 S. Cottingham Ave.) at 6:30 p.m.