CRESTLINE, Ohio – Crestline has put its foot down when it comes to unnecessary ambulance calls. On Monday council voted to approve an emergency ordinance that will charge $50 for unnecessary calls. This ordinance will go into effect in thirty days.
It was noted during the meeting that within the last year alone there were over 200 calls in Crestline in which the patient either refused service when the ambulance arrived or were non-emergency situations.
Crestline Police Chief Joe Butler said that there are several individuals in town that have been calling numerous times for non-emergency services. However, Butler voiced his displeasure with the ordinance before the vote of council, noting that he doesn’t want this to discourage calls in the case of a real emergency. Butler added that it has also always been their policy to help people.
Council member Tina Swartz also expressed concern over the ordinance, noting that some people in town have a fixed income. She said that while $50 may mean nothing to council, it may force others to choose between paying the $50 ambulance fee or buying an important medication.
She also addressed the quoted statistics and suggested council review a five year period to determine if last year was just an unusually high year for these occurrences or if the numbers were on the rise. She asked if these numbers were available before the vote and it was determined that they were not.
Despite concerns, the ordinance passed with a unanimous vote.
One council member said there has been a soft billing policy for these types of situations in the past. The soft billing was described as a lack of action on non-payment. With the new ordinance, non-payment is no longer an option, council said.
In other business
Council approved an emergency resolution to immediately appoint Aaron Hoptry to the position of full-time fireman with a one year probationary period. Butler said that Hoptry will be present with his family at the next council meeting to be introduced to the community and council.
Also, during the council meeting it was announced that Crestline may have to start looking for a new police cruiser after an officer attempted to take one through flood waters. Council member Clayton Herold said that the vehicle is currently being looked at and the motor could possibly be blown. Council member Tina Swartz suggested that the police force practice what they preach and turn around in case of water over the road. Herold said the cruiser was purchased just last year.
Crestline Village Administrator Marc Milliron announced that the water tower will be cleaned over a three day period beginning June 29. He added that residents may notice a reduction in water pressure during that time.
Milliron informed council that the Oldfield Road/Coyer Road improvement project may be cancelled and state grant money returned if the resolution for an agreement with Kelstin Inc. was not passed immediately.
The resolution was changed from a second reading to an emergency and passed.
The question was asked by council if any funding for this project would be provided by the school board since the road improvements are close to the school building area. Milliron said they will not since the area is not on their property.
A switch of committee heads also took place at the council meeting as Herold, head of the finance committee, traded duties with Gene Toy, head of the parks, playgrounds, and recreations committee. Herold said this was necessary to avoid any conflicting situations that may occur with the job at his bank. Herold said that Toy will do a fine job.
