   
MEMS subscription campaign kicks off in Faulkner county
By MONICA HOOPER
LOG CABIN STAFF WRITER
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 The MEMS Alert subscription drive has began in Faulkner County.
Jerry Roberts, Justice of the Peace for District 10, said he received the MEMS Alert mailer with his tax statement over the weekend.
"It's about being a good neighbor. Some poor people can't afford this," Roberts said while he purchased his subscription. "This costs about the same as pulling through Starbucks to get a cup of coffee every month, everybody can spare that. When they do that they're being a good neighbor because it's holding the price down for the people who can't afford much, (so that they) can still afford to protect their own families. And the more people who join this in the county the less burden that will be placed on our tax system."
Roberts said he's challenging his fellow JPs to sign up for the subscription drive. "We've already had to supplement it to keep it going and it's coming up again in September. If we're not back in the black there will be more supplements, which comes out of our county funds."
In January MEMS asked for a $55,000 subsidy to continue services in the county. Due to budget constraints, the Faulkner County Quorum Court granted the non-profit ambulance service $30,000 to keep services as they are until Sept. 1. Without a subsidy, MEMS will have to decrease operations at the Vilonia station from 24 to 14 hours a day, resulting in slower response times in the county.
"There are no state or federal standards on response time," Roberts said. "(MEMS) has taken it upon themselves to hold up 16 minute response time anywhere in the county." Swanson said that the service nets a response time of 11 minutes and 40 seconds in the county. "I worked with the state police for over 27 years, and you can trust me that (11 minutes, 40 seconds) is an excellent response time," Roberts added.
Response to the subscription drive in the county has been pretty light so far, Swanson said. "We passed out a lot of applications in the Toad Suck booth. From the county, we haven't had a mailing reach the county residents yet, just the city residents." Swanson added that Conway Corporation began mailings in March, so Conway residents will receive two mailings concerning the subscription drive. County residents should receive a mailing with their tax statements. The coverage costs anywhere from $60-80 depending on the family's insurance.
"With the membership there's no out of pocket expense for any emergency ambulance service for any member of the household for 12 months. It's a win-win situation," Swanson said.
For more information on the MEMS alert campaign 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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