Amber named chairman of Commissioners, EMS service agreement completed between county and hospital
By Don Amber, Whitley County Commissioner
Hopefully everyone had a good holiday season! We did but now it’s time to get back at it!
The county is busy with lots of projects. Most significantly is the Wind Power Ordinance which is still being crafted as I write. What bothers me most about this subject is the fact that it has caused 
neighbors to be mad at each other as well as families being upset with one another. I really appreciate the committees that have worked on this subject as well as the Planning Commission for their hard work. One thing I would like is for Plan Commission members to verbalize their questions and comments more at the meetings. Most Plan Commission meetings find only a few of the members talking. I recently attended a similar meeting in Wells County and all Plan Commission members freely spoke.
At our first meeting in 2012, I was elected Chairman of the Commissioners and take the position very seriously. I plan on having regular business hours each week but never hesitate calling me at 609-2833 or email at bison1112002@yahoo.com anytime you need to speak with me. I only have one full week under my belt but it’s enough for me to realize that Mr. Rethlake and other chairmen prior to me had a lot to do. I thank Tom Rethlake for his untold hours of leadership.
We were able to finally complete the agreement between Parkview Whitley Hospital and the county with regard to EMS. The agreement gives full control of EMS to the hospital while retaining ownership of assets with the county. Other features of the contract include a provision in which Parkview Whitley must maintain the minimum number of paramedics on duty at all times, they cannot relocate the ambulances from Churubusco or South Whitley without permission of the commissioners and likewise cannot relocate the dispatching of Whitley County ambulances without permission of the commissioners. The Commissioners are very focused on maintaining EMS coverage for the 33,000+ citizens and those who pass through Whitley County each day.
In 2011 the Commissioners, through the advice of their healthcare insurer, instituted a policy that says to the effect, if an insured county employee’s spouse has the ability to obtain health insurance through their employer that they must do so. While this wasn’t a popular policy in everyone’s mind, it was done because it appears that’s how the industry is going. The bottom line for the county (more importantly the taxpayers) was a savings of $112,000.00 in 2011. Pretty significant!!! On a more positive employment side, the county after three years of denying raises was able to provide a raise to employees for 2012. Now we have to hope that Congress doesn’t eat that increase up in taxes, something everyone has to worry about.
The Commissioners Report is a monthly column penned by Whitley County's three commissioners, currently Don Amber, George Schrumpf and Tom Rethlake. They discuss current issues of interest to Whitley County residents.
