Do we really need a NEW building??

According to the article that was published earlier, EMS is currently housed with the Ogemaw Transit and it isn't working out. I would hate to see it come to West Branch not having an ambulance in the West Branch area and if that is the case, then I support them relocating to a new building. It was my understanding according to the last article published that the EMS board was looking at different OPTIONS for relocating the EMS station in the West Branch area. Either a new building or if they can find an adequate building to meet there needs..

Yes, they do need a new building.

Really? They Absolutely positively need a spankin new building and nothing else but brand new will work.....no remodel, no current structure could possibly be considered or used. Ridiculous! (yeah, I know it is one unnamed persons opinion that they need new....it is just frustrating to me others willingness to spend our collective tax paid dollars and not look for ways to be frugal with OUR $$)

Mr. Griffin: What would the cost be to renovate an OLD building to accomodate EMS, compared to the cost of building new...Again, what I read in the last published article was that the EMS was looking at ALL options..Not just "SPANKIN NEW" ... Sounds as if this has touched a nerve with you...Do you have a building you need taken off your hands???

No

This article stated "We realize that EMS is currently exploring the possibility of constructing a new building" and that is what I commented on by simply asking the question. A reply from schwenk, confirmed the necessity of a NEW building. And yes, excessive spending by our government, whether local or national does spark a nerve with me. I hope there are more that have similiar feelings.

The EMS is not just a building for people to work at desks etc. There are the radios-dispatchers and the EMS people themselves who have to work 12 hours on 12 hours off. They need bathroom facilities including showers. They need a bed to sleep in and a place to relax watch tv or read a book when they are not sleeping-just like a small home. That ambulance needs to be plugged in. They need easy access in and out of the building and to the roadway. It isn't just something simple and throw them into any old building. Alot of the buildings available now would have to be remodeled considerably and may cost more to do so with updating it because of codes then it would be to build a new one. If they are out there to save someone's life then kudos to them and give them what they need. It may be your life one day they save.

If it were a private business, finding great accommodations at a reasonable cost would be a priority. Unfortunate, because it's taxpayer funded, nothing but the best will do. mr griffin make an excellent point. Our government is out of control at all levels. Manufacturing has largely left the area, businesses are struggling, families are out of work and trying to survive. Clearly the top priority for EMS would be a new building so the shiny new ambulances don't get cold.

Puke,

It has always been said that any government isn't a business (no profit) and shouldn't be ran as such. Well after that last 20 years or so of seeing various city, county, state & federal governments run into the ground with deficit spending sprees, maybe it is time for a profit in government? The article says "exploring the possibility of constructing a new building". Sounds to me that the new building with it's shiny new kitchen, living & bath areas really isn't necessary. Whether it is needed or not, the outcome is the same. More tax money or an increase in millage, whatever you call it, the "extra money" will be spent on something. Government can't bare the thought of saving.

http://www.usdebtclock.org/state-debt-clocks/state-of-michigan-debt-clock.html

http://www.usdebtclock.org/

Why not let a private ems service such as MMR into the county and eliminate the millage totaly.

If MMR, or any private company came in, wouldn't there be some cost to contract them? I don't disagree that privatization should be considered, but wouldn't there be some cost the county incurs. Before brick and mortar are acquired, with the annual costs of maintenance/ heat etc, seems like that should be heavily explored. Private businesses simply make better common sense decisions versus the unlimited or ever growing budgets of spending someone else's money!

To: LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD

You must be related to B.Griffin you both sound the same.

Don"t you think it is in the best interest of the people of Ogemaw County to have the proper facilities for our ambulance service? Hats off to all who are out there to save lives. You do deserve the best! As to the SHINY NEW AMBULANCE maybe the county could get a dirty old one just for you. I hope it runs. Maybe it will get there MAYBE NOT. What would your choice be old or new?.My family has needed the EMS service and they should all be praised for what they do

PUKE TO YOU!!!

As for MMR don"t you people read? Why not keep people of Ogemaw county working?

Hire outside and lose more jobs. This county needs more jobs not to lose them.....

Maybe just maybe they could work for MMR might be better pay who knows do you? They would possibly hire locals who know the area, makes sense. I used MMR last week for transfer of a relative from Standish hospital, yes Standish, to St. Marys in Saginaw, It was a shiny ambulance too. I also found the staff to be very nice and professional. I will say that the county EMS that transported this person to Standish hospital were also very nice and professional and made me feel that we were in good hands.

As an employee of OCEMSA for 16 years I would like to say that I don't understand the problem here.My boss has done the job she was hired to do.She has run our company effeciently and effectively.We seem to be being blamed for being in the "black".I understand these are hard times.I didnt exactly chose a high paying profession,so I am right there with you.But there are a few things you should know.

We are currently housed in the Transit building out on Airport road.We have been there for as long as I have been here.And while they have been great landlords we are still just renters.We share the building with another business.We work 24 to 48 hour shifts.So yes we need kitchens and bathroooms and bedrooms.At the transit building we are sleeping in 5x8 closets.The bathrooms are the public bathrooms.And our dayroom is shared with whom ever comes into the building during business hours.We are a very busy service and because we do work such long shifts we need someplace for down time and general neccessary personal hygiene.

I love my job.I love the people of Ogemaw county.We service all of Ogemaw and have stations in 2 other towns.We rent the other buildings.We have no building of our own.The police have theirs,the fire depts have theirs.So why is it bad that we have at least one for us?Our boss seen the need coming and she made it possible by building up our business acct.She has not said it was going to be "spanking new".She said they were researching what will be best for our business.And her track record proves that that is exactly what she will do.

And yes, we are a well equipped service.You, the public ,and our boss, has made sure of this.But us being well equipped is a matter of life and death.Our new ambulances are mostly re-chasied.Meaning they take the old boxes and put them on new trucks.To save money.Do you relize how many miles are put on those trucks?

And as far as having MMR come in ,you REALLY need to do the home work there.They are a very large corparation and the bottom line is the bottom line.Alot of our personnel either live in the county or have close ties to the county,Family,ect....We do not have a high employee turn over rate,which is unheard of in our business.But Shirley Buck has made this a family and a home for her people. Some times its nice to go where every body knows your name.

Carole L. Bowers PROUD Paramedic OCEMSA

use the old mill end building?

Now there is a post that has some merit from Carole bowers. Seems like this is the kind of comments a forum like this should have, some of the real world conditions of the ems. Not puke to you comment that some see as the height of intelligent recourse and also wishing ill will to others.

Question- why 24-48 hour shifts? Why not a normal schedule, or 12 hours on, then go home? Not trying to be coy.....I simply don't know the reason for the sleeping conditions that seem to be required. Also, does anyone know the cost of privatization to a county? Do any counties that have private service have residency requirements?

Very interesting Carole, we the public obviously need to ask many more questions of our elected officials on these issues. A while back I asked a commisioner if the health insurance choice the county made was in the best intrest of the taxpayers or the county employees and was told...the employees, well good for them, but shows that the taxpayers best intrest are not always represented in this county. I question why no other cuts have been made to any other official, a lot of them seem to be doing less for more... typical ogemaw politics, we need acountability.

Speaking as a shift worker, when you have to cover 24-7-365, 24 or 48 hour shifts make the only sense. If you have 8 hour shifts, you will need more EMT'S to cover the same time frame. I worked 8 hour shifts for 13 years before switching to the Dupont 12-hour schedule. Instead of working 7 days, evenings or nights in a row, you only worked 3 or 4 days or nights in a row which left more people for other coverage. There is a reason policeman, fireman, EMT's, hospital employees, power plant & refineries workers etc. work these shifts. IT WORKS!

Hi

dmanwaring is correct,the 24 or 48 hr shifts are what works when you have to man a business 24-7-365.Another little known fact is that a lot of EMS workers work several jobs to make a decent living.The public thinks because we are in the medical field that we must make pretty good money,but the fact is we are the lowest paid profession in medicine.I don't mind telling you that I make less than 14 dollars an hour after 16 years in the same position with the same company.But in this economy I am very grateful just to have a job.And yes the full time employees do have BCBS.But full time employees make up less than half the staff at OCEMSA.And considering our line of work and the illness and physical stress we are subject to I am surprised that all employees are not covered in some form or another.We are often put out there front line when we are not even sure what the illness is.We recently had an employee brake his ankle while responding to a call out in the woods. While the county commissioner may have thought that BCBS was a luxury we know it is a necessity in our line of work.And as to privatizing the EMS service in Ogemaw I will refer you to MMRMEDIC's comment under"Board votes to cut director's pay" If I can answer any more of your Questions,please just ask,

Thank you

Please see the posts under EMS Audit

Why don't we have BCBSfor our part time EMS employees? They are subjected to be around sick people. I know that is the job.

Than why do we as Ogemaw County tax payers have to furnish BCBS to our Board of commissioners? THEY ARE PART TIME EMPLOYEES ALSO... MORE POLITICS

LET THEM GET THERE OWN AS ALL OTHER PART TIME EMPLOYEES HAVE TO!!!

Are y'all for real?! You are telling me that since they have been frugal that they should give some money back? So when you get your act together and pay off your bills and build a savings account are you going to tell your boss you need to take a pay cut? That you don't need what they are giving you? Nope didn't think so. If you think that they have too much money get the word out and stop passing their budget. Just curious out of the people who don't like this who went out and voted No for the millage...

Plain & simple they need to be frugal with our tax dollars! Wether it be a new building or a convertabel alraedy standing building doesn't matter, bottom dollars matter! Maybe they could put some extra tax money into our failing goverment owned hospital :(

Keeping OCEMSA on the right track is helping the hospital HELLOONURSE0.We go hand in hand.If you don't believe that, then you are out of touch.W e are on the same side here.We are fighting the same battle.Trying to make the same people who over see our companies understand the jobs we do and our importance to this community.

I also noticed that the Ogemaw County Herald was not at the meeting last night.Hmmmmm