Clark County EMS District 1: Ambulance levy gets an unmistakable ‘Yes!’ from voters

Voters who live in the huge Clark County Emergency Medical Service District 1 overwhelmingly approved a three-year levy to continue ambulance service.

Voters in unincorporated Clark County posted 1,994 yes votes, about 78 percent positive.

In the small town of Yacolt, 197 voters approved the levy, or about 84 percent.

And Cowlitz County voters in the area provided 232 yes votes, about 83 percent of the votes they cast.

The area is about 1,000 square miles and an overall 60 percent yes votes were required.

“Congratulations to the residents of our service area,” said Ben Peeler, chief of North Country EMS and Fire District 13, both based in Yacolt. “Once again, for 36 years now, they have come out and supported their ambulance service.”

North Country has provided paramedic ambulance service in the district since 1976.

Specifically, Peeler said, the approval means the district can continue maintaining and staffing two ambulances 24/7.

The request is for $1.10 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation, or $275 for the owner of a $250,000 property. The money will be collected next year, and used in 2012, 2013 and 2014, Peeler said.

The ambulance service levy is separate from the funding of the fire department, Peeler said, and protects as many as 25,000 residents.

In summer, he said, “we get a large influx of people coming in to enjoy our recreational areas,” which can make the service that more important to have.

Residents of the EMS district aren’t charged for ambulance transport, although North Country will bill their insurance company, if they are insured. Visitors are charged for ambulance transport, Peeler said.

The new levy request is less than the $1.41 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation that voters approved in 2006, Peeler said.