As I yours, Sir. I sincerley hope I have given you the answers you were looking for. Again, feel free to ask any question and I'll do my best to answer.

Well you make a very well informed position clearer, if I was to guess I would suspect you are within the department or administration. I can understand the need to keep an unofficial profile and respect that. There are certainly opinions that are in error, and some that are verry correct. Some people can evaluate the spaces between the lines and others can barely keep their passions from clouding their own perceptions. As there is little precious time in city council to allow everyone the oportunity to express their opinions there is even less time to investigate and question the people whom can answer the questions. This forum "Patch" is a very public forum with few safeguards to keep information factual, however as I read between the lines I am inspired to keep the retoric going for the very reason we talk, finding a common respect for what we think needs to be exchanged and developing respect for thae source. Exchange ideas and information in a bolg untill a better venue can be used. Thanks for your input, I respect your viewpoint.

Steve

As you pointed out, there are alot of posts/acusations on this forum. The majority of which are not true. There are also alot of unanswered questions the taxpayers have, and have the right to have answered. Just know that this is not the place to get the whole truth. As I have posted, the Dept has brought in numorous grants to beneifit the dept and relieve the cost burden on the taxpayer. This by no means obsolves the dept from being accountable for its expenses. Did you know when a Rescue transports a patient to the hosp. it generates income for the city through 3rd party billing?? Not many people do. Somebody asked why the dept sends two truck w/ members on Rescue runs. If for some reason the call if for a "code" or unresponsive patient, you would need @ the minimum 4 people to attempt resessitation (spelling) on that person. All of these questions can be answered by any member of the dept. The doors are open 24hrs. Just know that you can't get better protection/service for to what works out to approx $400 per address per year. The men/woman of the dept are dedicated to doing whatever it takes to get the job done whatever the situation. My own grandmother had fallen while trying to make her bed and had to call for assitance. The dept arrived, made sure she wasn't hurt, made her bed and essentially "tucked her in" before leaving. These are the kinds of thing done for the taxpayer that nobody ever hears about.

Thank You.
My point is that there seems to be a great deal of confused comments and agendas flying around. I think the need to have a basic (or detailed) understanding of what is realy at the core of necessary staffing and cost to do so. Obviously the union has their mark, the city has their ideas, and somewhere there is information that can be used to set an example that sets a cost for the reasonable service we need as opposed to strangling the taxpayer with the apparently abusive costs we have. No one wants to set a realastic picture of what is going on. Sure you can compare city to city but each case is set in its own reality of operation and not necessaraly similar when compared apples to apples. Is EP actually a costly system or are there issues that are hidden and avoidable?

I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.....If I have them of course. Have a good day!