JEMS fees to rise?

Jay County residents may face increased fees for emergency medical service as soon as July 1.

Jay County Commissioners briefly discussed the financial situation of Jay Emergency Medical Service, which has spent more than it has generated through tax revenue and fees the last two years, and expressed frustration that the revenue issues have yet to be addressed.

Commissioner Faron Parr met with financial consultant Greg Guerrettaz and JEMS administrators in February to discuss ways to address the revenue shortfall. At that time, increasing fees for JEMS services was proposed.

Although the commissioners would have to enact any fee increases with an ordinance, they are waiting for feedback on how much to increase those charges.

Guerrettaz will give a presentation Wednesday to the Jay County Council, and the commissioners will speak with him then.

Commissioners Jim Zimmerman and Faron Parr will discuss the situation on Monday with the intention of readying the fee increases to take effect on July 1. Commissioner Milo Miller Jr. will be out of town, but gave his support, saying that something needs to be done soon to help keep JEMS fiscally buoyant.

In other business Monday, the commissioners:

•Told two local organizations that due to budget constraints the county may not be able to provide funding in 2011. The requests were from Eric Rogers, executive director, Arts Place, and from Rob Weaver and Doug Inman, representing John Jay Center for Learning.

Rogers was requesting $12,250 for the 2011 Arts in the Parks program, while John Jay's request for operational support for 2011 was $25,000.

•Appointed Robyn Fisher-Meyer as Public Health Coordinator for the Jay County Health Department. Fisher-Meyer was selected to replace Gary Gibson, who died in April.

•Signed an updated Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan presented by Jay Emergency Management Agency director Ralph Frazee.

•Heard an update on Jay County's Vision 20/20 process from Inman.[[In-content Ad]]