CREIGHTON, Mo. — In many small towns, emergency medical care is as close as an ambulance ride. But in Creighton, Mo., in Cass County, the city could soon be without local ambulance service — unless if taxpayers pick up the tab.
Right now, ambulances are used from nearby Garden City. It’s a 15-minute drive to Creighton and their services, operated completely by volunteers, are used about 100 times per year.
“It’s not like we’re trying to break the bank here. We just want those folks to pick up a portion of that responsibility to provide service,” said Fire Chief Mark Lopez with the Garden City Fire Department.
Garden City has provided services for Creighton since 1992, when voters in Creighton voted against funding a local ambulance service. State agencies ruled that Garden City would have to take those calls.
On average, Lopez said it would cost taxpayers around $20 a year.
“We’ve gotta get more aggressive and make sure those folks don’t lose service. That’s our attempt. It’s not that we want to pull service,” he said.
Judy Demorest sits on the Creighton Board of Aldermen. She said negotiations are underway that could hep alleviate problems and see Garden City’s ambulances assisting volunteer firefighters in Creighton.
“People in Creighton were afraid that Garden City was trying to take over the whole fire department. That’s not, as I understand, what they want to do at all.”
As far as Demorest can explain, that conflict of personalities is the root of the dispute.
Both sides do agree they’d like to the issue to be included in the general election ballot in November.
