Benton accepts ambulance donation

Benton city officials accepted a donation of an ambulance from the city of West Frankfort during Monday's city council meeting.
The ambulance will be used as a backup to Abbott Ambulance, which serves the city, according to Public Health and Safety Commissioner Don Storey.
"They (West Frankfort) didn't have to give it to us but they did. They saw that we needed one at different times so they donated to us for nothing," Storey said. "We've been working on this for quite awhile. What it will be used for is a backup situation when Abbott's is out of town (or unavailable)."
Storey said the ambulance, a 2004 model, will be sent to all structure fires in the city and will be available free of charge to city employees who are injured on the job. Storey said this will save the city thousands of dollars in worker's compensation claims.
"We no more will be Abbott's responding to those calls when employees are working. That takes $2,100 away from Abbott's. That's kind of helping with the cost of everything and you don't have to pay worker's comp for that," he explained.
Storey added there are still some details to be worked out, although Fire Chief Shane Cockrum said the ambulance can be equipped for less than $5,000 and he has 15 certified EMTs that can respond to calls. Cockrum said West Frankfort and other ambulance services were coming to Benton at least 45 times a year to help Abbott.
"We kind of wanted to slow that down. We've got capable people, and we thought it was a great opportunity for our people to serve our citizens," Cockrum said.
Cockrum said funds in his budget will be used for startup costs.
"We're going to try this as a two-year trial. If it doesn't work or if we lose money we will abolish the program in two years," Storey said, adding, "We're not trying to put anybody out of business. It's going to save the citizens of Benton when there is not an ambulance (available)."
Storey and Cockrum said the backup ambulance service will probably not start until early summer.
In other business, Mayor Fred Kondritz appointed Kyle Neal and Victor Shockley to the Zoning and Planning Commission; and the agency's annual report was accepted.