The Moore County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night voted to table the recommendation from the Emergency Services Advisory Committee despite agreeing with the proposal.
The board’s action also includes the tabling of endorsement of a companion offer from the Vass Rescue Squad for the Crain’s Creek firefighters to join the squad.
“I think it would be worthwhile to step back and take a look at the whole program,” County Manager Steve Wyatt said.
Wyatt recommended that the board take no action on the proposals at this time and instead look into a comprehensive study of the countywide program. He estimated the process would take as long as 18 months.
“I’m inclined to agree with the manager that we don’t need to do it one way at Crain’s Creek and another way in other areas,” Board Chairman Michael Holden said. “We need to be good stewards of county taxpayers’ money.”
However, Crain’s Creek Fire Chief Kenneth Mackey said it would cost no more to allow his unit to respond and that it might save lives. Crain’s Creek fire district extends into Harnett County. Mackey said Harnett County officials support the concept.
“We think this would be a great asset,” Mackey said.
Mackey pointed to the geography of the Crain’s Creek district, which extends along a narrow strip of Moore County running beside Lobelia Road toward Cumberland County.
Unanswered Calls
Of 141 rescue calls within the Crain’s Creek district, 29 went unanswered by the Vass Rescue Squad, Mackey told the board. He also said there have been long waits for help to arrive.
“Twenty minutes is a long time for someone having a heart attack,” Mackey said.
Mackey reported that his department has eight certified emergency medical technicians, one certified medical responder and another member who is awaiting test results.
“Vass Rescue does a great job, but what are we going to do if there is a person two houses down from the station having a cardiac arrest and we don’t know about it,” Mackey said in a memorandum to the advisory committee.
Mackey cited an incident at the station in 1999, when a fireman saved a baby’s life by performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Commissioner David Cummings, who is a member of the Vass squad, asked Holden for permission to read a letter addressed to the commissioners from Vass Rescue Capt. Don Strickland.
In his letter, Strickland expressed concern that such an action would pose a liability for the squad and the county because Crain’s Creek holds a state charter for fire service only. Strickland said the squad has received no complaints from the community and that four fire department members are already squad members.
“This has worked out well for us, because it gives us much better coverage for that area of Moore County, and, by being a member of the Vass Rescue Squad, it greatly reduces the liability for us and you,” Strickland wrote.
Cummings said several squads in the county have dual members who serve both fire departments and rescue squads.
“I agree with the chairman that we need to study this. I feel we ought to deny the request at this time,” Cummings said.
Outside Study
Commissioner Colin McKenzie recommended that the study be conducted by outside parties with no connection to local issues and individuals.
Wyatt said this is a specialized field and it will probably be costly to find a qualified person to conduct such a study. He estimated that such a professional might charge as much as $50 to $100 an hour.
“I respectfully disagree with Commissioner McKenzie,” Wyatt said. “We need to confer with people in the local field. It would be an investment.”
Commissioner Virginia Saunders then made the motion to table the measure until a study could be carried out. McKenzie made the second, and approval was unanimous.
“This board needs some clear direction,” Holden said after the vote. “We spend a lot of money in this county on these resources.”
Cummings reminded the other commissioners that Moore County allocates $11,000 to each rescue squad because the squads assist the countywide EMS as well as provide rescue services. Squads with a certified ambulance receive an additional $5,000.
“Everybody knows I breathe and live rescue squad,” Cummings said.
Referring to the $11,000 grants, Cummings said, “It’s worth well more than that.”
The commissioners discussed the EMS system and its relationship to the rescue and fire units in November during a planning retreat.
