Libby Volunteer Ambulance and Fire respond to criticism
by Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio
May 26, 2012
Two of Libby's emergency services leaders, Craig Shultz and Tom Wood, from Libby Volunteer Ambulance, and the Libby Volunteer Fire Department are responding to criticism of not cooperating, regarding the lawsuit filed against their departments by the Cabinet View Fire Department.
"We have ridden the high road. This is truly beginning to damage our good reputation", said Craig Shultz of the LVA. "A group of dedicated volunteers are now heading down the road of disaster led by irrational leaders," Schultz said in a statement. Specifically, Schultz is referring to Cabinet View Chief, Dan Leavell, says the statement.
At issue is the effort by Cabinet View to provide emergency medical services in their fire service area. Because of Leavell's persistent efforts to expand its scope of services, the Lincoln County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on June 6 to take action on a petition to dissolve the fire service area. If that happens, Cabinet View could be no more.
These actions have not gone unnoticed at the state level. A letter to Leavell from the EMS and Trauma Systems Section of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, March 2011, directs Leavell from having his members "self-dispatch" to medical calls and ordered Cabinet View to cease response to medical incidents unless specifically requested by a licensed EMS service or other authority.
Schultz thinks the volunteers of Cabinet View have been lied to by their leaders. "These people could have been serving their community all along," says Schultz. "They were offered the opportunity, join the Libby Ambulance and respond from their homes to their neighbors all under the protective umbrella and guidance of experienced, real world EMTs", said Shultz. "They've been led down the wrong road."
"With this current group of leaders at Cabinet View, there is no agreement that can be made with our groups," said Schultz. "The commissioners really don't have a choice. Continue to let them roll recklessly without, putting taxpayers at risk and lives in danger, or just shut it down," Schultz concluded.
We will find out June 6th at the Commissioner's hearing.
__________________________________
By Duane Williams, KLCB-KTNY Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com e-mail: klcb@frontiernet.net.
|
