Oberlin To Vote on Ambulance Levy In General Election

Life or Death: An important levy on the ballot for the general election will, if passed, assure Oberlin residents ambulance service. (file photo)

First it was the Allen Memorial Hospital. Then it was ambulance service. Over the past few months, rumors that Oberlin will lose its medical facilities have circulated from Hamilton Road to Pyle-South Amherst Road and everywhere in between.

Though they stem mostly from the Oberlin Medical Center's announcement that it seeks to be bought out by another health care provider, voters are now being given an alternative that will ensure them emergency medical service.

On the ballot is Issue #39, a levy for ambulance service. If passed, this five-year, three million levy will raise approximately $600,000 to pay the Central Lorain County Joint Ambulance District for providing emergency ambulance service for the district.

Jim White, president of the Board of Trustees for the Ambulance District, said, "The passage of this levy will be a big step forward for the benefit of the hospital." Like many Oberlin residents, White is anxious to see whether the Allen Memorial Hospital can recoup its losses and survive for another year. White said, "The last figures we had said they'd lost $450,000 in providing ambulance service in one year. It's very, very, expensive, especially if the service is provided in a rural area."

James Schaum, CEO of Allen Memorial Hospital, said, "I don't know if it'll help out the hospital, but the big thing is that it assures that people will have access to emergency services. Certainly the idea of the hospital providing services has been a burden for the 12 years I've been here. The only way we got money for running ambulance service is by charging money for runs. We made three runs a day, which isn't enough volume to pay for having someone available."

White said, "I've been going to Oberlin College football games since the '60s and I can only clearly recall one occasion when the ambulance had to leave the football game and go on an emergency run." White estimates that the ambulances average 60 runs per month. "You simply don't make money in situations like that," White said. He noted that the ambulances from the LifeCare Ambulance Service, which serve Elyria and Lorain, receive about 60 calls per day.

Schaum also noted the unique position that the Allen Memorial Hospital faced as it attempted to operate an emergency response service. "There aren't too many hospitals that operate 911 services. It's a unique thing in Oberlin alone."

If the levy passes, the funds will enable two ambulances to offer continuous service to residents in the ambulance district ‹ Oberlin, Kipton, Camden, Henrietta, New Russia and Pittsfield. One ambulance will be available 24 hours a day and the other will be avaible 16 hours a day. Each will be equipped with a wireless satellite global positioning system (GPS). Mutual assistance agreements with adjacent ambulance services will ensure that Oberlin residents will always have an ambulance ready to serve.

Though passing the levy makes sense in light of the Oberlin Medical Center's decision, White acknowledged that he is nervous. "Since this is a general election, all of the emphasis has been on presidential aspects, as well as on the House of Representatives and the Senate. By the time you get down to voting for the issues you just don't know. It is a tax and people don't like to vote on behalf of taxes. There is a sentiment that, ŚGolly, I don't need an ambulance.' We'll keep our fingers crossed."

Before the levy gets passed, White and company must get around the concerns that some neighboring towns, like Henrietta Township, have about being overly influenced by some non-profit institutions within the county. Both Oberlin College, with 2800 students, and Kendal at Oberlin, with 300 residents, have an opportunity to exert their influence in getting the levy passed.

The upcoming presidential election has caused many students to register as Ohio residents. Dean of Students Peter Goldsmith said "It is particularly important that, if Oberlin students are going to vote in town, they be informed of local issues. At the same time, they are residents here for at least four years and they have an interest and a stake in the wellbeing of the town, just like any other residents."

Schaum said that getting is levy passed should be a top priority for Oberlin residents. "It's the best deal for Oberlin residents. 60 percent of use comes from Oberlin and 35 percent of the money out of Oberlin."

Yet not many Oberlin residents have taken an active role in learning about the levy. Last night at a meeting to inform residents, only one other person was in attendance with this reporter. "Maybe people are waiting for candidate's night," said White, referring to the Monday event where town residents meet the local politicos.