Members of the Franklin County Emergency Services committee met for the final time on Tuesday.

Franklin County Board Chairman Randall Crocker commended the ambulance service committee for its recommendation during last week’s county board meeting, adding that the committee would be disbanded.

Committee member Hervey Davis said the county board had approved the committee’s recommendation.

“The county board voted to place a referendum on the Nov. 4 election ballot, requesting citizens to support a 3/4-cent increase in sales tax as a public safety tax,” Davis said. “We are disbanding this group. In the future, county board members will formulate two more committees-one to develop public relations and the other to figure out how to run the ambulance service.”

Committee and county board member Ken Hungate said the county board agreed with the committee’s recommendation.

“The committee recommended the 3/4-cent public safety tax and a spring 2009 vote,” he said. “After State’s Attorney Tom Dinn elaborated on the status of Clay Hobbs and the Mercy Regional Emergency Health Services situation, county board members thought this required quick action and the tide turned. I think the county board was moving in the direction of placing the referendum on the November ballot.

“If I am involved in one of the next committees, I think each district should be represented and a board should be formed of qualified people who are looking to the future,” Hungate said. “The board should come up with a variety of ideas to present to the county board and should remain on board throughout the duration.”

Hungate commended the committee, saying all have a positive outlook and are moving in the right direction. He said the ambulance service had provided “outstanding service to the citizens of Franklin County.”

“Now that Tom Jordan has been court-appointed to serve as director of Mercy Regional, we have strong leadership,” Hungate said. “The problem all along was poor management, not the ambulance service personnel.”

While not a committee member, Jordan has been attending the meetings and spoke out during Tuesday’s final meeting.

“I was in court the day Clay Hobbs pled guilty,” Jordan said. “The corporation pled guilty to health care and mail fraud. Clay pled guilty to tax charges. The court is open to either selling the business and equipment or finding another ambulance service. The court does not transfer the business and equipment to another entity.

“The sentencing date is Dec. 5,” Jordan said. “I was told that the U.S. government had requested to have the ambulance service extended beyond that date. It is the desire of the government to give time to locate another service or a buyer. People have shown an interest in purchasing the equipment. Hopefully between now and early spring something should be in place to replace us.”

Jordan extended credit to Mercy Regional Emergency Health Services personnel, saying they deserve the credit for keeping the ambulances on the road.

“They have all supported me and have worked hard during this very difficult time,” he said. “They are the heroes here. I have good people that I can trust and count upon. The reason the ambulance service has survived is because of them. The situation I have been placed in as court-appointed director has been humbling. I have learned a lot. This has been a challenge and an educational experience.

“In the history of ambulance services, it is unprecedented for the government to take control of this type of public service,” Jordan said. “The court is concerned about the citizens of Franklin County and are tying to help residents.”

Bill Wilson said he is concerned about the employees.

“When Mercy Regional is dissolved, that will leave between 45 and 50 Franklin County residents without jobs,” he said. “We can’t afford to lose that many jobs. The economy is tough enough right now without losing more jobs and putting a more difficult burden on families.”

Jordan said the court would extend its decision to recoup the money for a period of time, saying Hobbs would have to repay $2 million to the federal government.

He said the ambulance service is operating “95 percent on the contract with VA Medical Center and the other five percent is private pay,” Jordan said. “We are not receiving money from Medicare or Medicaid due to the indictments against Mr. Hobbs.

“We are operating five ambulances for the VA contract,” he said. “They are on the road every day and we have a backup unit in case another is needed. We offer wheelchair van and service cars to transport veterans.”

Jordan said the ambulance service receives between 41 and 50 calls a day for transport service, in addition to calls for emergency service.

Wilson said the court is willing to extend time to allow the county to find another ambulance service. “But there are limitations,” he said. “All of the judges involved in the case are willing to help us.”

Davis suggested contacting Congressman Jerry Costello, Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Barack Obama for assistance. Wilson said Costello is willing to help.