   
MEMS subscription drive to start next week
By MONICA HOOPER
LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
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 The MEMS alert subscription drive is set to start as early as next week.
"We're working to finalize the printing for a flier that will go out with both Conway Corporation (utility bills) and the annual county tax mailings to make the public aware of the opportunity for MEMS Alert," Jon Swanson, exective director of MEMS, said. Swanson said that the Conway Corp mailings could start next week. The county will send out tax mailings on about May 1.
The Faulkner County Quorum Court gave MEMS a $30,000 subsidy in Febuary so the ambulance service could continue operations within the county. Intially the organization asked for a $55,000 subsidy to keep two crews on shift 24 hours a day within the county. Without a subsidy, Swanson said the MEMS station near the 8-Mile store at Vilonia would decrease operations to 14-hours a day, resulting in slower response times in the county.
Swanson told the court that the partial subsidy would keep county operations running until Sept. 1, 2008.
"As we approach that date, we will re-evaluate the situation taking into account among other factors, whatever success we might realize with the MEMS alert campaign," Swanson said. "MEMS does not have any financial benefit gain from this program. All the net revenues are applied back as net revenues within the community, either the city of Conway or Faulkner County as a whole."
If the amount received from subscriptions doesn't cover costs, Swanson said the organization will "have to re-evaluate and take into account all factors such as response time, call volumes. MEMS has no desire, no hidden agenda, no intention of leaving Faulkner County. We continue to work with the Quorum Court to make certain that we are able to provide an adequate level of coverage, but we have to be able to do it on a break-even basis."
The MEMS Alert subscription allows residents to pre-pay for ambulance service at a rate based on insurance and medicare coverage.
For more information on the MEMS Alert program visit the Web site at www.memsalert.org.
(Staff writer Monica Hooper can be reached by e-mail at monica.hooper@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1266. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
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