Supervisors approve new ambulance funding measure

By DAVID HULSE

LACKAWAXEN, PA — Township voters will be asked to approve a significant tax increase to help fund Lackawaxen’s volunteer ambulance service this fall.

The supervisors authorized the ballot question on June 18, by approving a resolution that would raise the ambulance millage from its current .375 mills to 1.5 mills.

Chairman Brian Stuart explained that the Pennsylvania Municipal Code prohibits increases of more than .5 mills without a ballot question.

“We have to look around,” and consider alternatives to the all-volunteer corps, Stuart said. Compensation of volunteers is one alternative and a paid service is another, he said. “It’s not too early to start exploring,” Stuart said.

The millage increase would compensate service for only a 12-hour day.

Ambulance service president Cathy Wargo noted that even with approval, new funding would become available until 2005. Until then MobileMedic, which has recently begun operations in Shohola, will probably be called upon to assist with calls.

“We want to give the six of us (who currently field most volunteer calls) a chance not to make that three-hour drive every time,” she said.

In other business the supervisors reviewed PennDOT plans for the realignment of the intersection of Routes 434, 6 and the Well Road and were briefed on the township’s maintenance responsibility for a new flashing light to be installed there.

At the recommendation of Township Emergency Management coordinator Ed Boyle, the supervisors also adopted a new emergency management plan, which complies with new federal standards and will allow Lackawaxen to compete for related grants and funding.