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Show Firemen Support Bountifuls Paramedic Proposal CHERYL ARCHIBALD Review Stall BOUNTIFUL Most firemen in Davis County back Bountifuls proposal of having paramedics through the fire department. In fact, if they could get the state to approve training for them, some part time firemen in the South Davis Fire District would even be willing to pay for their own training. In a letter to Davis County commissioners, Bountiful officials requested to have part of the countys paramedic program turned over to the city. That move has prompted firemen in other departments to express a desire for paramedic programs too. Bountiful officials and South Davis Fire Department personnel said that response time to emer gencies would improve if paramedics operated out of the fire departments. Paramedics arc now run through the Davis County Sheriffs Department in a joint medical and law enforcement capacity. Two rescue trucks equipped for medical emergencies patrol Davis County, one going north from and one patroling Farmington ' south. In an effort to provide a better service to an expanding number of medical calls, a third unit has been requested by the Sheriffs Department. Money for the truck will be available in 1986. With the county acquiring a third unit, now would be a good time to implement a city operated paramedic program, said Bountiful city manager, Tom Hardy. The Sheriffs Department could keep their program and give the third unit to Bountiful. .Or they could give part of their program to South Davis Fire District and other fire departments and "get out of the paramedic business and get back to law enforcement, Hardy said. Bountifuls ambulance answers every medical call in Bountiful to transport victims treated by county paramedics. Several sources, including Hardy, say that most of the time the ambulance gets to the scene before paramedics do. They feel that with paramedics on the ambulance, medical treatment would be available to victims sooner. Bountiful' has most, of the equipment necessary. Hardy said. Bountiful tax payers now support the county program but the mill levy could return to support a city paramedic program. The way we figure it, to run shift operation weve the got right now, wed need six paramedics, Hardy said. Paramedics would be city firemen which the city would have trained at Webers paramedic school. Cost to train one paramedic costs $800 to 24-ho- ur $1,000 plus wages. Bountiful firemen, who pre- ferred not to be named, said there is a conflict of interest in having law enforcement officers ip the sheriffs department as paramedics. They wanted to know what would happen if a drug user d and needed medical treatment. As a paramedic, the officer would have to give aid, but he would also want to inves over-dose- tigate and would question the tim at the same time, The Firemens Association at the South Davis fire department owns four ambulances operating in North Salt Lake, Farmington and two in Bountiful. Paramedics could respond to calls in the am- vic- South Davis firemen have always wanted their own paramedic program. Weve always felt we could but its not feasible, said Fire Chief Brent Argyle, The state wont give us the training because they say we have an paramedic program." He explained that his department could go with a modular program, training EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) to a higher level. Right now the state only allows Davis County EMTs to train up to level two. But in some counties there are EMTs trained to level four, which is the same as a paramedic. Weve approached the state saying we want to go with level three, but they won't let us, Ar- bulances. I ce can see their (the sheriffs de- partments) side. Theyve got a good program and are trying to build on it. But they are spread kind of thin. There is a duplica- tion of services and probably 90 percent of calls could be answered by EMTs. " Bountiful is the size where they have full time firemen--th- e service demands it. They have the personnel and theyve got the ambulance that has to answer every call to transport so let them have the advanced training and be independent, Argyle said. gyle said. Vol. 4 No. 39 Wednesday, October 3, 1984 Big Cities Dont Plan To Join New District Layton Mayor Lewis Shields said he feels the city council in the long run," w ill not join the district. This is how they feel right now. 1 dont think theyll do it in the long run, but who knows? APRIL ADAMS Review Staff Despite the fact that the countys three most populous cities can still join the d special service district, to be willing to do so dont appear they newly-create- now. Formed last week by county commissioners, the district will consolidate the two county landfills and handle solid waste disposal in the county. District boundaries were formed to delete the three areas. Residents in the three cities do not have a voice in the activities of the district, or whether the burn plant will be built or not. The proposed method for disposing of solid waste is a resource recovery burn plant. The 2 smaller cities in the county are members of the district. City councils are now forwarding names to commissioners for their representatives on the administrative control board to be formed. Commissioners will appoint the other three board members. Layton, Clearfield and Bountiful can join the district if the councils desire, but must follow the appropriate steps according to state law. However, city officials indicated they have no desire to do so at this time. Clearfield City Manager Wally Baird said we arent interested in participating right now. I havent heard any city council member say otherwise. He added that council members 1 1 havent discussed the issue since Sept. 6, when they voted not to join the district. Bountifuls city manager, Tom Hardy, also said the city had no plans to become a member of the service district now. ; Were prepared to go our own way, either along with others or alone, he said. However, he added that if the district came up with a favorable proposal, city officials would take a look at it." All three city councils voiced one of the same objections when they voted The district against inclusion. administrative board should be based on population representation rather than-the concept to be established. County officials say the two landfill district boards have been operating that way for over 25 years. But if 10 percent of any of the three cities population petition in favor of joining the district, the city council must reconsider the issue. Otherwise, the council must first adopt a resolution stating their intent to join the district, said Jerry Hess, county attorney for civil matters. Part of a citys concern, if interested in joining the district, would be whether the district had already incurred indebtedness, Hess said. The city would have to shoulder its share of the financial burden. e one-vot- one-pers- . ; Bookmobile To Service Davis County Residents APRIL ADAMS Review place by next year. Staff FARMINGTON The state cant take over operation of the county bookmobile right now, so Davis County will . continue to operate the vehicle until at least next year. The issue was discussed at a meeting last week with state library officials. The state library board is in a difficult position at this time, said Jeanne Lay-todirector of the county library system. Its not feasible for them to become involved in taking over, the county Photo by Robert Regan this time, she Shirley Mayo, was eventually able to persuade Lucas to bookmobile operation at said. move so he could go bicycle riding. Lucas is the son of She indicated that changes in the Fred and Gerri Smith. states bookmobile program could take n, THE PLAINTIVE WAIL of Move Lucas. I dont want to be Lucas stuck up here forever! doesnt budge 3 year-ol- d Smith (bottom) from the afternoon lounge he finds in a Bountiful crab apple tree. Todd Mayo, 6, son of Keith and , : The state library board was recently audited as a routine procedure of the legislative auditor generals office. The committee makes recommendations to the state legislature on funding; of various state departments after audit- - operational and maintenance cost inr volved. The first draft of the county li.brary budget indicates that an increased! operating expense from $61,196 to about -; $78,000 may be required. To add to the financial difficulties involved, the county bookmobile is also old and frequently has mechanical problems of some sort. Breach Causeway County Can Handle Bountifuls Dogs Acts as Expected Review Staff Davis County BOUNTIFUL animal control officials have convinced Bountiful City that they can handle Bountifuls animal control problems. Interim animal control director Glen Taylor explained his department was striving to patrol all streets of Bountiful three days a week. Two officers will cover the area and one more will be on duty when needed. Problems within the agency recently led to a diminishing quali- ing reestablishing its own dog catching program. The biggest complaint is about dogs at large, Bountiful City Manager Tom Hardy said. The problem will not cease until enforcement of ordinances is strong enough to make people keep their dogs and cats off the streets, he said. That would mean picking up dogs physically and fining owners or destroying the pets. The city receives complaints about barking dogs and dogs making messes in their yards. and bicyclists have been and Joggers ty of animal control Bountiful police began receiving annoyed and attacked by dogs and some citizen complaints about nuisance roaming the streets had to reportedly have consider animals. The city began bicyclists quit riding in some areas because of dogs. Also, a low number of dogs are licensed which shows that many are not current on vaccinations. More stringent fines for second time offenders not having dogs licensed and tied up was a suggestion made by Bountiful Police Chief Larry Higgins, but the city judge would ultimately have to give stiffer fines, Hardy explained. The city suggested that animal control officers patrol during morning and evening hours and on weekends when the majority of dog owners let their dogs loose. The goal of the county, said Taylor h is to reduce the number of percent by solv- animals before with ing problems occur. they The Davis County Animal Control Center is "trying to get its credibility back, Taylor said. It will take time to make up for some of the problems in the complaints by 30 ' past. Lately callers have refused to call the county, saying its a waste of time, said Police Lt. Don Tay-lo- r. A recent investigation of the county animal shelter uncovered mismanagement procedures. Bountiful officials prefer for the county to do the job, and they will give more referrals now to the county. A breach in the Great Salt Lake causeway is acting much the same as state officials expected. The south arm of the lake is now about 9': inches higher than the north arm, and the difference in the two levels seems to be almost constant, recent tests show. The U.S. Geological Survey conducts tests every two weeks on the breaching effect of the Southern Pacific Railroad causeway. The most recent test was taken last week. The causeway was breached in an attempt to on Aug. 1 1 , ing them every few years. County library officials proposed the" matter to the state because of the high Animal Control Convinces City CHERYL ARCHIBALD . control the rising waters of the lake. The waters of the south arm reached their highest level since 1878 this year. The lake peaked at about 4,209.25 feet. Officials say further reduc- tion in the two lake arms will be very slow and mild. The higher salinity of the north arm will cause a permanent imbalance. The south arm has a much lower saline density. Overall, the south arm has dropped 12'2 inches, and the north arm has risen 7 inches. On Aug. 1, the difference was 39 inches between the two arm 1 levels. . ; |