The Taylor Town Council met on May 3 and among the topics on the agenda was the consideration of a rate increase for the Taylor-Snowflake Fire and Medical Department (TSFMD), the wastewater treatment plant bids, and changes to the Town Code.
The council was presented with a proposal for a general rate increase for ambulance services provided by TSFMD. Rate increases must be applied for and submitted to the Arizona Department of Health Services and have the possibility of being denied.
The last rate increase was an automatic increase in June of 2017, with small annual automatic rate increases are determined by the Arizona Department of Health Services. TSFMD Chief, William Nelson, presented information to the council seeking approval to apply for the rate increase. “In reviewing what other communities are charging for similar service, ours are significantly lower,” said Nelson.
The increase is needed due to a projected increase in inflation of 2.38 percent and the minimum wage increase. The increased rates will put the TSFMD at rates very similar to surrounding communities such as Heber-Overgaard Fire District, Timber Mesa Fire and Medical District, Holbrook EMS and Forest Lakes Fire District. The increase would affect paramedic services, mileage charges and standby charges. It is estimated that 50 percent of the TSFMD budget comes from ambulance services billing.
The current rates are $1,153 for paramedic services, $14.23 per mile and a standby charge of $54.25.
The proposed increased rates are $1,352 for paramedic services, $15 per mile and a $378.25 standby charge.
TSFMD covers approximately 400 rural square miles and services a population of nearly 10,000. The rural nature of the area means driving farther to reach patients and putting more wear and tear on emergency vehicles. Following the presentation, the council approved applying for the rate increase.
Last month at the town council meeting Town Manager Gus Lundberg presented three bids for the improvements to the wastewater treatment plant but recommended that the council reject all three bids. There was concern that the bid request scope was not clear enough because the bids were so varied. The council agreed and the project was put back out for bid with better clarifications.
During the new bidding process three bids were received. The lowest bid was received from Navapache Equipment Services in the amount of $548,000. “We are confident that they understand the scope of the project and we recommend that you award this contract,” said Lundberg. The council approved the contract.
The council was then presented with two resolutions for minor changes to Taylor Town Code. “First we have a resolution followed by an ordinance. The reason we do this resolution is to make all of these changes so that we do not have this massive long ordinance. We adopt these changes by resolution and then we will have the first reading of the ordinance. We will then publish that for the required 21 days and will have a hearing on those at the next council meeting,” said Lundberg.
These were simple verbiage changes to items that no longer apply. One of those items pertained to elections. A couple years ago, the state mandated that elections be held in the fall. Taylor had previously held elections in the spring. The code will now be updated to reflect that. Another change was to remove outdated water rates and other specifically stated fees that no longer apply.
The other change applies to planning and zoning variances. Variance procedures previously differed from other procedures. The change makes the process more uniform and creates an appeal process. Planning and zoning will now approve a variance before it goes to the council.
The council approved these two resolutions and the first read of the new ordinance was read. As required, they will publish the ordinance for the 21 days. The next regular monthly town council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 7, at the Taylor Town Hall located at 425 Paper Mill Road.
