Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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Currently, the County pays $5,750 per month to B & M and owners of the company site rising costs and a need for another ambulance as the reason for the additional $2,500 per month.
B & M also receives $5,750 per month from the City of Giddings and is asking for the same extension on their contract and increase subsidy of $2,500 per month from the City, which is expected to be approved this week.
Giddings City Manager Paul Kipp said, “B & M has provided our community quality service at what we feel is a reasonable price for many years.”
Sylvin Mersiovsky, owner of B & M, said, “Sixty percent of this increase will go for pay increases for our employees. We provide retirement and health insurance for full-time employees. The rest of it will help us purchase a new ambulance this year, which will cost between $80,000 and $100,000.”
Mersiovsky also said, “Collection rates are in the 70% range for the County. Our rates are still below the majority of counties around us. Collections were up $300,000 from 1997 to 2004, but our expenses for the same time period were up $306,000.
“My wife and I want to thank the people of Lee County for all the courtesies that have been extended to us through the years,” Mersiovsky said.
B & M Ambulance provides ambulance and EMS service throughout Lee County with the greater part of their activity taking place in the south part of the County. The Lexington Volunteer EMS provides these services in Lexington and to the north end of the County, but B & M offers backup to the volunteer force in Lexington.
Also during Monday’s meeting, the Court approved the Lee County Historical Commission membership as presented by the Commission. There are no significant changes from this past year.
The Court also approved a Resolution evidencing the annual review and adopting the recommendations of the Investment Committee concerning the investment policy of Lee County.
The retirement of Adeline Melcher as District Clerk and the appointment of Lisa Teinert as the new District Clerk were reported. Teinert was present and thanked the Court for their support.
The government class from Dime Box High School attended this Commissioners’ Court meeting as a part of the observance of County Government Week.
During the comments from the Court item on the agenda, Commissioner Maurice Pitts reported that last week’s Household Hazardous Waste Cleanup was a success with some 117 families bringing hazardous waste to the collection point in Giddings. Based on past participation, only 90-100 families were expected, so this was much more successful than anticipated. Commissioner Pitts mentioned that a significant number of Lexington area residents took advantage of this opportunity.