A Public Hearing concerning the petition submitted to San Saba County to create an Emergency Service District (ESD) was held on Tuesday, February 16th in the County Courtroom, and was attended by approximately 90 people. County Judge Byron Theodosis conducted the meeting, supported by County Commissioners Rickey Lusty, Kenley Kroll and Otis Judkins. Forest McGregor gave the Invocation.

Judge Theodosis read the names of committee members that will gather information and report to the Commissioners Court.

Darrel Spinks, President of the San Saba County EMS, explained the petition to create an Emergency Service District. The required one hundred signatures of San Saba County property owners were secured and public notices posted in the newspaper for the Public Hearing. Spinks explained the decline in number of volunteers that staff the current Volunteer EMS. If there is another emergency when EMS Primary is already on a call, and no backup is available, it is then neccessary for an ambulance to be requested from a surrounding county.

The current volunteer EMS has a paid Director, Wymond Kraft. The rest of the organization is made up of volunteers.

The volunteers at this time average many hours a week and Wymond Kraft is filling in on calls, which is not supposed to be part of his duties.

If created, an Emergency Service District would access10 cents per $100 property valuation, and based on the County’s Real Property, could generate approximately $295,000 in revenue in addition to the income from charges to those transported. The plan is to hire three full-time paramedics and three part-time EMT Basics and have volunteers to assist. The ESD would be a governmental entity that has taxing authority and a non-paid Board of Directors under the supervision of the County Commissioners. (The creation of an ESD will require a vote by the people of San Saba County.)

At the present time, the city and county contribute $40,000 each per year to the Volunteer EMS. There was a question in the audience regarding the city and county contributing in addition to the ESD if it is approved by voters. Stan Weik, City Manager, and Judge Theodosis both mentioned it would need to be approved by the City Council and County Commissioners.

There was a discussion on when to put the petition on the ballot for vote; May, 2010 or November, 2010. The May election could cost quite a bit more than the November election, however, it was suggested to join with SSISD and RSISD and share expenses with them in the May election.

Randy Henderson, San Saba Appraisal District, reported that appraisal values have increased the last five years but is starting to slow down. Henderson also mentioned that if the petition is put on the ballot before July 1, 2010, the funds would be available January, 2011. If the petition is on the November ballot, the funds would be available January, 2012.

There were comments and questions from the audience and concern for the situation of the emergency medical services for San Saba County. Judge Theodosis encouraged people to contact the County Commissioners, the Judge, EMS members, and the ESD Committee for other comments and questions before adjourning the meeting.

ESD CommitteeMember contact numbers, mailing addresses, and email addresses:

*Amthor, Mark - 372-7208, 501 N. High St.San Saba, TX 76877 mamthor@centex.net

*Garza, Susie - 372-3685, 295 County Road 106, San Saba, TX 76877 lewisgarza@centex.net

*Faught, Karen - 372-5115, P.O. Box 815, San Saba, TX 76877

*McGregor, Forrest - 372-3300, 1351 County Road 412, Lometa, TX 76853

*McKinnerney, Ricky - 452-3357, Cell: 372-7758, 100 W. Coyote Trail, Richland Springs, TX 76871 ricky@rmckrealty.com

*Price, Bill - 325-429- 6220, Cell: 372-1439, 1923 CR 381, Fredonia, TX 76842 price@hctc.net

*Roberds, Rila - 623-5443, 4696 County Road 249, Rochelle, TX 76872 rroberds@centex.net

*Shahan, Kevin - 372-4613, Cell: 325-205-0113, 1102 West Wallace, San Saba, TX 76877 cpa@kevinshahan.com

*Spinks, Darrel - 372-4400, P.O. Box 99, San Saba, TX 76877 ddspinks@yahoo.com

*Theodosis, Byron - 372-3635, Cell: 372-7002, P.O. Box 595, San Saba, TX 76877

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judge@co.san-saba.tx.us andadminasst911@co.san-saba.tx.usWilliams, Cissy - Cell: 372-8703, 2130 North Hwy 16, San Saba, TX 76877

A Public Hearing concerning the petition submitted to San Saba County to create an Emergency Service District (ESD) was held on Tuesday, February 16th in the County Courtroom, and was attended by approximately 90 people. County Judge Byron Theodosis conducted the meeting, supported by County Commissioners Rickey Lusty, Kenley Kroll and Otis Judkins. Forest McGregor gave the Invocation.

Judge Theodosis read the names of committee members that will gather information and report to the Commissioners Court.

Darrel Spinks, President of the San Saba County EMS, explained the petition to create an Emergency Service District. The required one hundred signatures of San Saba County property owners were secured and public notices posted in the newspaper for the Public Hearing. Spinks explained the decline in number of volunteers that staff the current Volunteer EMS. If there is another emergency when EMS Primary is already on a call, and no backup is available, it is then neccessary for an ambulance to be requested from a surrounding county.

The current volunteer EMS has a paid Director, Wymond Kraft. The rest of the organization is made up of volunteers.

The volunteers at this time average many hours a week and Wymond Kraft is filling in on calls, which is not supposed to be part of his duties.

If created, an Emergency Service District would access10 cents per $100 property valuation, and based on the County’s Real Property, could generate approximately $295,000 in revenue in addition to the income from charges to those transported. The plan is to hire three full-time paramedics and three part-time EMT Basics and have volunteers to assist. The ESD would be a governmental entity that has taxing authority and a non-paid Board of Directors under the supervision of the County Commissioners. (The creation of an ESD will require a vote by the people of San Saba County.)

At the present time, the city and county contribute $40,000 each per year to the Volunteer EMS. There was a question in the audience regarding the city and county contributing in addition to the ESD if it is approved by voters. Stan Weik, City Manager, and Judge Theodosis both mentioned it would need to be approved by the City Council and County Commissioners.

There was a discussion on when to put the petition on the ballot for vote; May, 2010 or November, 2010. The May election could cost quite a bit more than the November election, however, it was suggested to join with SSISD and RSISD and share expenses with them in the May election.

Randy Henderson, San Saba Appraisal District, reported that appraisal values have increased the last five years but is starting to slow down. Henderson also mentioned that if the petition is put on the ballot before July 1, 2010, the funds would be available January, 2011. If the petition is on the November ballot, the funds would be available January, 2012.

There were comments and questions from the audience and concern for the situation of the emergency medical services for San Saba County. Judge Theodosis encouraged people to contact the County Commissioners, the Judge, EMS members, and the ESD Committee for other comments and questions before adjourning the meeting.

ESD CommitteeMember contact numbers, mailing addresses, and email addresses:

*Amthor, Mark - 372-7208, 501 N. High St.San Saba, TX 76877 mamthor@centex.net

*Garza, Susie - 372-3685, 295 County Road 106, San Saba, TX 76877 lewisgarza@centex.net

*Faught, Karen - 372-5115, P.O. Box 815, San Saba, TX 76877

*McGregor, Forrest - 372-3300, 1351 County Road 412, Lometa, TX 76853

*McKinnerney, Ricky - 452-3357, Cell: 372-7758, 100 W. Coyote Trail, Richland Springs, TX 76871 ricky@rmckrealty.com

*Price, Bill - 325-429- 6220, Cell: 372-1439, 1923 CR 381, Fredonia, TX 76842 price@hctc.net

*Roberds, Rila - 623-5443, 4696 County Road 249, Rochelle, TX 76872 rroberds@centex.net

*Shahan, Kevin - 372-4613, Cell: 325-205-0113, 1102 West Wallace, San Saba, TX 76877 cpa@kevinshahan.com

*Spinks, Darrel - 372-4400, P.O. Box 99, San Saba, TX 76877 ddspinks@yahoo.com

*Theodosis, Byron - 372-3635, Cell: 372-7002, P.O. Box 595, San Saba, TX 76877

judge@co.san-saba.tx.us andadminasst911@co.san-saba.tx.us

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Williams, Cissy - Cell: 372-8703, 2130 North Hwy 16, San Saba, TX 76877