Latest on Marfa EMS

[Guest guest]

I don't know if any of you have heard about what has been going on in

Marfa these days but I thought I'd give you an update on what's going

on there. It seems that Marfa has a shortage of personnel. Since they

don't pay enough to keep a cat alive, this isn't surprising. With the

shortage, it seems that there were times that Marfa was out of service

and had to get surrounding services to cover for them. They applied to

the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an ambulance with one

cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption. So,

here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap wages and,

when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you can

carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax dollars at

work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in charge

of making sure our citizens are takeb care of.

JoeT

[Guest guest]

Presidio County, of which Marfa is the county seat, has 7,722 residents in

the county (2005 estimate) and the population has fallen by 15% over the

past decade (read fewer taxpayers). There is no industry except ranching and

smuggling. The median household income for Presidio County is $24,254 while

for Texas as a whole it is $39,967. The city's proposed annual budget for

2007 is $2.7 million. EMS in Texas is not a mandated service. Where will

Marfa get the money? Other counties? (hardly). The feds? (nope). Presidio

County only received $55,000 last year in federal spending (most for

customs/border patrol). Fill the boot at the local Dairy Queen?

There are numerous other counties in Texas like this. EMS in Texas MUST BE

DECLARED AN ESSSENTIAL TEXAS SERVICE. Without it, Texas will suffer. I would

rather see one certified person than none. I did my internship at Medical

Center Hospital in Odessa. Marfa gats some low sick people and they are

pretty much out of helicopter range. You do the best you can with what you

have. You can't make money when it isn't there. The tax base will not

support an Austin/ County type of systems nor the salaries paid there.

I really respect those who work in rural Texas. The level of EMS

sophistication must rise the further one is from a hospital. It takes money

and dedication to keep rural personnel current. TEXAS MUST ADDRESSS THIS

ISSUE AS OUR POPULATION IN AGING.

_____

From: texasems-l [mailto:texasems-l ] On

Behalf Of Joe

Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 6:21 PM

To: texasems-l

Subject: Latest on Marfa EMS

I don't know if any of you have heard about what has been going on in

Marfa these days but I thought I'd give you an update on what's going

on there. It seems that Marfa has a shortage of personnel. Since they

don't pay enough to keep a cat alive, this isn't surprising. With the

shortage, it seems that there were times that Marfa was out of service

and had to get surrounding services to cover for them. They applied to

the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an ambulance with one

cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption. So,

here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap wages and,

when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you can

carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax dollars at

work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in charge

of making sure our citizens are takeb care of.

JoeT

[Guest guest]

I have to agree that we need to make EMS an essential service in

Texas. That's the only way we are even going to have a chance at

fixing things.

Just a little more on the subject of Marfa EMS though. The last I

heard was that Marfa is paying $8.50 an hour for 8 hours of a 24 hour

shift. That comes out to $52.00, or just over $2.00 an hour spread

over the whole 24. I got this information from a medic that went up

there and worked a 48 hour shift and was paid for 16 hours. When she

complained to the commissioners, she was told in essence tough

cookies. That could be one reason that Marfa is having such a hard

time getting help. Just as an aside here, Van Horn in Culberson

County has a much larger area and a smaller tax base and pays nearly

double what Marfa pays and doesn't stop paying you at 8 hours.

Incidently Dr. Bledsoe, things have changed a bit since you were at

Medical Center. They now have Carestar based out of there and they

cover all this area including Marfa and Alpine. They provide excelent

service and will answer any call that weather permits.

Also, I know people that have lived in Marfa all their lives and

are moving out because the cost of living there has gotten so high

they can't afford to stay. It appears that Marfa has become the new

Mecca for the art community and they are taking over there. I did a

quick check of the real estate listings for Marfa, and the cheapest

property I could find was an 8 yr old trailer for $72,000, well

unless you count the adobe with no doors or windows going for 50,000.

Near as I could figure, the average price for property listed was

over $200,000.

Maybe it's just me, but it sounds like somebody here is trying to

get something for nothing.

Joe T

-- In texasems-l , " Bledsoe, DO "

wrote:

>

> Presidio County, of which Marfa is the county seat, has 7,722

residents in

> the county (2005 estimate) and the population has fallen by 15%

over the

> past decade (read fewer taxpayers). There is no industry except

ranching and

> smuggling. The median household income for Presidio County is

$24,254 while

> for Texas as a whole it is $39,967. The city's proposed annual

budget for

> 2007 is $2.7 million. EMS in Texas is not a mandated service. Where

will

> Marfa get the money? Other counties? (hardly). The feds? (nope).

Presidio

> County only received $55,000 last year in federal spending (most for

> customs/border patrol). Fill the boot at the local Dairy Queen?

>

>

>

> There are numerous other counties in Texas like this. EMS in Texas

MUST BE

> DECLARED AN ESSSENTIAL TEXAS SERVICE. Without it, Texas will

suffer. I would

> rather see one certified person than none. I did my internship at

Medical

> Center Hospital in Odessa. Marfa gats some low sick people and they

are

> pretty much out of helicopter range. You do the best you can with

what you

> have. You can't make money when it isn't there. The tax base will

not

> support an Austin/ County type of systems nor the salaries

paid there.

> I really respect those who work in rural Texas. The level of EMS

> sophistication must rise the further one is from a hospital. It

takes money

> and dedication to keep rural personnel current. TEXAS MUST ADDRESSS

THIS

> ISSUE AS OUR POPULATION IN AGING.

>

>

>

> _____

>

> From: texasems-l [mailto:texasems-

l ] On

> Behalf Of Joe

> Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 6:21 PM

> To: texasems-l

> Subject: Latest on Marfa EMS

>

>

>

> I don't know if any of you have heard about what has been going on

in

> Marfa these days but I thought I'd give you an update on what's

going

> on there. It seems that Marfa has a shortage of personnel. Since

they

> don't pay enough to keep a cat alive, this isn't surprising. With

the

> shortage, it seems that there were times that Marfa was out of

service

> and had to get surrounding services to cover for them. They applied

to

> the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an ambulance with

one

> cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption. So,

> here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap wages

and,

> when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you

can

> carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax dollars

at

> work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in

charge

> of making sure our citizens are takeb care of.

>

> JoeT

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have to add-since you brought it up, that if a medic is injured out here

in a line of duty accident that they will be kicked to the curb as disposed

of. If they are covered at all with Workmen's Comp it will not be enough to

cover medical bills and the services most certainly will not adhere to court

orders to pay if they are found negligent- say of letting the insurance slip

on the ambulance prior to the rollover.

EMS as is practiced out here and I suspect in much of rural Texas is a

guaranteed route to bankruptcy and or a lifetime of feeling the effects of

any illness or injury sustained on the job. There is no safety net for EMS.

Two dear friends and fine paramedics have shown this to be the case out

here and three local services have a permanent black mark due to their lack

of business ethics and cut throat way of dealing with their injured/ill

workers.

The bottom line is work for those who will take care of you as you take care

of them..avoid those who don't. Life lesson # 362. Life lesson #

363-Never forget!

Just another rant...

Raina Dodson M.S., LEMTP (inactive)

Presidio EMS

>

>Reply-To: texasems-l

>To: <texasems-l >

>Subject: RE: Latest on Marfa EMS

>Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2006 20:00:44 -0500

>

>Presidio County, of which Marfa is the county seat, has 7,722 residents in

>the county (2005 estimate) and the population has fallen by 15% over the

>past decade (read fewer taxpayers). There is no industry except ranching

>and

>smuggling. The median household income for Presidio County is $24,254 while

>for Texas as a whole it is $39,967. The city's proposed annual budget for

>2007 is $2.7 million. EMS in Texas is not a mandated service. Where will

>Marfa get the money? Other counties? (hardly). The feds? (nope). Presidio

>County only received $55,000 last year in federal spending (most for

>customs/border patrol). Fill the boot at the local Dairy Queen?

>

>

>

>There are numerous other counties in Texas like this. EMS in Texas MUST BE

>DECLARED AN ESSSENTIAL TEXAS SERVICE. Without it, Texas will suffer. I

>would

>rather see one certified person than none. I did my internship at Medical

>Center Hospital in Odessa. Marfa gats some low sick people and they are

>pretty much out of helicopter range. You do the best you can with what you

>have. You can't make money when it isn't there. The tax base will not

>support an Austin/ County type of systems nor the salaries paid

>there.

>I really respect those who work in rural Texas. The level of EMS

>sophistication must rise the further one is from a hospital. It takes money

>and dedication to keep rural personnel current. TEXAS MUST ADDRESSS THIS

>ISSUE AS OUR POPULATION IN AGING.

>

>

>

> _____

>

>From: texasems-l [mailto:texasems-l ] On

>Behalf Of Joe

>Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 6:21 PM

>To: texasems-l

>Subject: Latest on Marfa EMS

>

>

>

>I don't know if any of you have heard about what has been going on in

>Marfa these days but I thought I'd give you an update on what's going

>on there. It seems that Marfa has a shortage of personnel. Since they

>don't pay enough to keep a cat alive, this isn't surprising. With the

>shortage, it seems that there were times that Marfa was out of service

>and had to get surrounding services to cover for them. They applied to

>the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an ambulance with one

>cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption. So,

>here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap wages and,

>when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you can

>carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax dollars at

>work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in charge

>of making sure our citizens are takeb care of.

>

>JoeT

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I did forget to mention that while the regular tax base in Marfa can barely

make ends meet, there is a housing boom (read average housing prices of 250,

000- 400 000) in Marfa so that rich cats from the East and West coast can

have a summer house in the boonies. Also the Chinati foundation has

bought up most of the town but they are non-profit. Property values are sky

high and getting higher, but the schools and local infrastructure are

failing. So technically there is BIG money out here, its just not going to

anything that matters (except wine tasting, and art shows). It is not the

county I left 6 years ago.

http://www.latimes.com/travel/destinations/south/la-tr-marfa10apr10,1,1254693.st\

ory?coll=la-travel-south

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/art-oasis

>

>Reply-To: texasems-l

>To: <texasems-l >

>Subject: RE: Latest on Marfa EMS

>Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2006 20:00:44 -0500

>

>Presidio County, of which Marfa is the county seat, has 7,722 residents in

>the county (2005 estimate) and the population has fallen by 15% over the

>past decade (read fewer taxpayers). There is no industry except ranching

>and

>smuggling. The median household income for Presidio County is $24,254 while

>for Texas as a whole it is $39,967. The city's proposed annual budget for

>2007 is $2.7 million. EMS in Texas is not a mandated service. Where will

>Marfa get the money? Other counties? (hardly). The feds? (nope). Presidio

>County only received $55,000 last year in federal spending (most for

>customs/border patrol). Fill the boot at the local Dairy Queen?

>

>

>

>There are numerous other counties in Texas like this. EMS in Texas MUST BE

>DECLARED AN ESSSENTIAL TEXAS SERVICE. Without it, Texas will suffer. I

>would

>rather see one certified person than none. I did my internship at Medical

>Center Hospital in Odessa. Marfa gats some low sick people and they are

>pretty much out of helicopter range. You do the best you can with what you

>have. You can't make money when it isn't there. The tax base will not

>support an Austin/ County type of systems nor the salaries paid

>there.

>I really respect those who work in rural Texas. The level of EMS

>sophistication must rise the further one is from a hospital. It takes money

>and dedication to keep rural personnel current. TEXAS MUST ADDRESSS THIS

>ISSUE AS OUR POPULATION IN AGING.

>

>

>

> _____

>

>From: texasems-l [mailto:texasems-l ] On

>Behalf Of Joe

>Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 6:21 PM

>To: texasems-l

>Subject: Latest on Marfa EMS

>

>

>

>I don't know if any of you have heard about what has been going on in

>Marfa these days but I thought I'd give you an update on what's going

>on there. It seems that Marfa has a shortage of personnel. Since they

>don't pay enough to keep a cat alive, this isn't surprising. With the

>shortage, it seems that there were times that Marfa was out of service

>and had to get surrounding services to cover for them. They applied to

>the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an ambulance with one

>cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption. So,

>here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap wages and,

>when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you can

>carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax dollars at

>work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in charge

>of making sure our citizens are takeb care of.

>

>JoeT

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I had heard the same thing...how about a motel tax or rental car tax to fund the

EMS there?

Dudley

Latest on Marfa EMS

>

>

>

> I don't know if any of you have heard about what has been going on

in

> Marfa these days but I thought I'd give you an update on what's

going

> on there. It seems that Marfa has a shortage of personnel. Since

they

> don't pay enough to keep a cat alive, this isn't surprising. With

the

> shortage, it seems that there were times that Marfa was out of

service

> and had to get surrounding services to cover for them. They applied

to

> the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an ambulance with

one

> cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption. So,

> here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap wages

and,

> when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you

can

> carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax dollars

at

> work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in

charge

> of making sure our citizens are takeb care of.

>

> JoeT

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dr. B,

At the last GETAC, we had a meeting of EMS and Hospital folks to discuss this

very thing. After some research, here is the things we basically discussed:

1. There is no essential service in Texas...LEO, FD, etc. The only mandate for

any public safety is the law that established DPS and the Texas Constitution

that says each county will have an elected sheriff.

2. Almost all public services think and believe they are essential. FD, LEO,

EMS, water department, street department, trash service....and in their own

ways...they are.

3. In our current society...any legislation that MANDATES any sub-division of

the State of Texas (city, county, ESD, etc) to provide a service and doesn't

provide funding will not be successful.

4. Municipalities can regulate and control EMS...and are allowed to pass laws

to do so....but counties ARE not.

So, we decided to start an email list to discuss ideas and theories. Our first

assignment, (which is moving slowly unfortunately) is to come up with

Latest on Marfa EMS

I don't know if any of you have heard about what has been going on in

Marfa these days but I thought I'd give you an update on what's going

on there. It seems that Marfa has a shortage of personnel. Since they

don't pay enough to keep a cat alive, this isn't surprising. With the

shortage, it seems that there were times that Marfa was out of service

and had to get surrounding services to cover for them. They applied to

the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an ambulance with one

cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption. So,

here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap wages and,

when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you can

carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax dollars at

work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in charge

of making sure our citizens are takeb care of.

JoeT

[Guest guest]

I must have missed something here. I realize it's been awhile

since I took a math class, but let's see if I can do a little

figuring anyway. According to the 2000 census, the average value of a

home in Marfa was 35,500. Now you say that the average housing cost

is 250,000 to 400,000, median would be around 300,000. That means

property values are about 10 times what they were. Even without an

increase in tax rate, that should equate to 10 times the tax dollars.

Even with my limited math skills, I can see that somethin just don't

add up.

>

> I did forget to mention that while the regular tax base in Marfa

can barely

> make ends meet, there is a housing boom (read average housing

prices of 250,

> 000- 400 000) in Marfa so that rich cats from the East and West

coast can

> have a summer house in the boonies. Also the Chinati foundation

has

> bought up most of the town but they are non-profit. Property

values are sky

> high and getting higher, but the schools and local infrastructure

are

> failing. So technically there is BIG money out here, its just not

going to

> anything that matters (except wine tasting, and art shows). It is

not the

> county I left 6 years ago.

>

> http://www.latimes.com/travel/destinations/south/la-tr-

marfa10apr10,1,1254693.story?coll=la-travel-south

>

> http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/art-oasis

>

>

> >

> >Reply-To: texasems-l

> >To: <texasems-l >

> >Subject: RE: Latest on Marfa EMS

> >Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2006 20:00:44 -0500

> >

> >Presidio County, of which Marfa is the county seat, has 7,722

residents in

> >the county (2005 estimate) and the population has fallen by 15%

over the

> >past decade (read fewer taxpayers). There is no industry except

ranching

> >and

> >smuggling. The median household income for Presidio County is

$24,254 while

> >for Texas as a whole it is $39,967. The city's proposed annual

budget for

> >2007 is $2.7 million. EMS in Texas is not a mandated service.

Where will

> >Marfa get the money? Other counties? (hardly). The feds? (nope).

Presidio

> >County only received $55,000 last year in federal spending (most

for

> >customs/border patrol). Fill the boot at the local Dairy Queen?

> >

> >

> >

> >There are numerous other counties in Texas like this. EMS in

Texas MUST BE

> >DECLARED AN ESSSENTIAL TEXAS SERVICE. Without it, Texas will

suffer. I

> >would

> >rather see one certified person than none. I did my internship at

Medical

> >Center Hospital in Odessa. Marfa gats some low sick people and

they are

> >pretty much out of helicopter range. You do the best you can with

what you

> >have. You can't make money when it isn't there. The tax base will

not

> >support an Austin/ County type of systems nor the salaries

paid

> >there.

> >I really respect those who work in rural Texas. The level of EMS

> >sophistication must rise the further one is from a hospital. It

takes money

> >and dedication to keep rural personnel current. TEXAS MUST

ADDRESSS THIS

> >ISSUE AS OUR POPULATION IN AGING.

> >

> >

> >

> > _____

> >

> >From: texasems-l [mailto:texasems-

l ] On

> >Behalf Of Joe

> >Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 6:21 PM

> >To: texasems-l

> >Subject: Latest on Marfa EMS

> >

> >

> >

> >I don't know if any of you have heard about what has been going on

in

> >Marfa these days but I thought I'd give you an update on what's

going

> >on there. It seems that Marfa has a shortage of personnel. Since

they

> >don't pay enough to keep a cat alive, this isn't surprising. With

the

> >shortage, it seems that there were times that Marfa was out of

service

> >and had to get surrounding services to cover for them. They

applied to

> >the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an ambulance with

one

> >cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption. So,

> >here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap wages

and,

> >when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you

can

> >carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax dollars

at

> >work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in

charge

> >of making sure our citizens are takeb care of.

> >

> >JoeT

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Dr. B,

At the last GETAC, we had a meeting of EMS and Hospital folks to discuss this

very thing. After some research, here is the things we basically discussed:

1. There is no essential service in Texas...LEO, FD, etc. The only mandate for

any public safety is the law that established DPS and the Texas Constitution

that says each county will have an elected sheriff.

2. Almost all public services think and believe they are essential. FD, LEO,

EMS, water department, street department, trash service....and in their own

ways...they are.

3. In our current society...any legislation that MANDATES any sub-division of

the State of Texas (city, county, ESD, etc) to provide a service and doesn't

provide funding will not be successful.

4. Municipalities can regulate and control EMS...and are allowed to pass laws

to do so....but counties ARE not. Maybe a first step is to merely get counties

the ABILITY to regulate EMS if they want to....then we could move forward from

there as success stories are developed in counties that use this first change to

make a difference in their jurisdictions.

So, we decided to start an email list to discuss ideas and theories. Our first

assignment, (which is moving slowly unfortunately) is to come up with a logical

list of statements of " Why should EMS be an essential service? "

In our initial discussions, we all know EMS should be an essential service...but

when pressed as to why (research showing we make a difference, etc) it is

difficult to list.

I don't believe we have posted this to the TexasEMS Listserve yet. The group

name is TXEssentialEMS and you can subscribe to this list by

sending an email to TXEssentialEMS-subscribe .

We really need to get this debate moving forward and we need to get our first

question answered and start formulating a gameplan so we can meet again while we

are all in Dallas next month.

Dudley

Latest on Marfa EMS

I don't know if any of you have heard about what has been going on in

Marfa these days but I thought I'd give you an update on what's going

on there. It seems that Marfa has a shortage of personnel. Since they

don't pay enough to keep a cat alive, this isn't surprising. With the

shortage, it seems that there were times that Marfa was out of service

and had to get surrounding services to cover for them. They applied to

the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an ambulance with one

cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption. So,

here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap wages and,

when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you can

carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax dollars at

work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in charge

of making sure our citizens are takeb care of.

JoeT

[Guest guest]

I think that what he was saying is that the average cost of NEW CONSTRUCTION is

250-400K. However, if the average for pre-existing homes is 35K, it would take

a LOT of new construction to raise the total tax base by much.

Joe wrote: I must have missed something here. I

realize it's been awhile

since I took a math class, but let's see if I can do a little

figuring anyway. According to the 2000 census, the average value of a

home in Marfa was 35,500. Now you say that the average housing cost

is 250,000 to 400,000, median would be around 300,000. That means

property values are about 10 times what they were. Even without an

increase in tax rate, that should equate to 10 times the tax dollars.

Even with my limited math skills, I can see that somethin just don't

add up.

>

> I did forget to mention that while the regular tax base in Marfa

can barely

> make ends meet, there is a housing boom (read average housing

prices of 250,

> 000- 400 000) in Marfa so that rich cats from the East and West

coast can

> have a summer house in the boonies. Also the Chinati foundation

has

> bought up most of the town but they are non-profit. Property

values are sky

> high and getting higher, but the schools and local infrastructure

are

> failing. So technically there is BIG money out here, its just not

going to

> anything that matters (except wine tasting, and art shows). It is

not the

> county I left 6 years ago.

>

> http://www.latimes.com/travel/destinations/south/la-tr-

marfa10apr10,1,1254693.story?coll=la-travel-south

>

> http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/art-oasis

>

>

> >

> >Reply-To: texasems-l

> >To: <texasems-l >

> >Subject: RE: Latest on Marfa EMS

> >Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2006 20:00:44 -0500

> >

> >Presidio County, of which Marfa is the county seat, has 7,722

residents in

> >the county (2005 estimate) and the population has fallen by 15%

over the

> >past decade (read fewer taxpayers). There is no industry except

ranching

> >and

> >smuggling. The median household income for Presidio County is

$24,254 while

> >for Texas as a whole it is $39,967. The city's proposed annual

budget for

> >2007 is $2.7 million. EMS in Texas is not a mandated service.

Where will

> >Marfa get the money? Other counties? (hardly). The feds? (nope).

Presidio

> >County only received $55,000 last year in federal spending (most

for

> >customs/border patrol). Fill the boot at the local Dairy Queen?

> >

> >

> >

> >There are numerous other counties in Texas like this. EMS in

Texas MUST BE

> >DECLARED AN ESSSENTIAL TEXAS SERVICE. Without it, Texas will

suffer. I

> >would

> >rather see one certified person than none. I did my internship at

Medical

> >Center Hospital in Odessa. Marfa gats some low sick people and

they are

> >pretty much out of helicopter range. You do the best you can with

what you

> >have. You can't make money when it isn't there. The tax base will

not

> >support an Austin/ County type of systems nor the salaries

paid

> >there.

> >I really respect those who work in rural Texas. The level of EMS

> >sophistication must rise the further one is from a hospital. It

takes money

> >and dedication to keep rural personnel current. TEXAS MUST

ADDRESSS THIS

> >ISSUE AS OUR POPULATION IN AGING.

> >

> >

> >

> > _____

> >

> >From: texasems-l [mailto:texasems-

l ] On

> >Behalf Of Joe

> >Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 6:21 PM

> >To: texasems-l

> >Subject: Latest on Marfa EMS

> >

> >

> >

> >I don't know if any of you have heard about what has been going on

in

> >Marfa these days but I thought I'd give you an update on what's

going

> >on there. It seems that Marfa has a shortage of personnel. Since

they

> >don't pay enough to keep a cat alive, this isn't surprising. With

the

> >shortage, it seems that there were times that Marfa was out of

service

> >and had to get surrounding services to cover for them. They

applied to

> >the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an ambulance with

one

> >cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption. So,

> >here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap wages

and,

> >when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you

can

> >carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax dollars

at

> >work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in

charge

> >of making sure our citizens are takeb care of.

> >

> >JoeT

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Actually, when I checked the real estate listings for Marfa, that

was what pre-existing homes were going for, some as much as 100 yrs

old.

> >

> > I did forget to mention that while the regular tax base in Marfa

> can barely

> > make ends meet, there is a housing boom (read average housing

> prices of 250,

> > 000- 400 000) in Marfa so that rich cats from the East and West

> coast can

> > have a summer house in the boonies. Also the Chinati foundation

> has

> > bought up most of the town but they are non-profit. Property

> values are sky

> > high and getting higher, but the schools and local infrastructure

> are

> > failing. So technically there is BIG money out here, its just not

> going to

> > anything that matters (except wine tasting, and art shows). It is

> not the

> > county I left 6 years ago.

> >

> > http://www.latimes.com/travel/destinations/south/la-tr-

> marfa10apr10,1,1254693.story?coll=la-travel-south

> >

> > http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/art-oasis

> >

> >

> > >From: " Bledsoe, DO " <bbledsoe@>

> > >Reply-To: texasems-l

> > >To: <texasems-l >

> > >Subject: RE: Latest on Marfa EMS

> > >Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2006 20:00:44 -0500

> > >

> > >Presidio County, of which Marfa is the county seat, has 7,722

> residents in

> > >the county (2005 estimate) and the population has fallen by 15%

> over the

> > >past decade (read fewer taxpayers). There is no industry except

> ranching

> > >and

> > >smuggling. The median household income for Presidio County is

> $24,254 while

> > >for Texas as a whole it is $39,967. The city's proposed annual

> budget for

> > >2007 is $2.7 million. EMS in Texas is not a mandated service.

> Where will

> > >Marfa get the money? Other counties? (hardly). The feds? (nope).

> Presidio

> > >County only received $55,000 last year in federal spending (most

> for

> > >customs/border patrol). Fill the boot at the local Dairy Queen?

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >There are numerous other counties in Texas like this. EMS in

> Texas MUST BE

> > >DECLARED AN ESSSENTIAL TEXAS SERVICE. Without it, Texas will

> suffer. I

> > >would

> > >rather see one certified person than none. I did my internship

at

> Medical

> > >Center Hospital in Odessa. Marfa gats some low sick people and

> they are

> > >pretty much out of helicopter range. You do the best you can

with

> what you

> > >have. You can't make money when it isn't there. The tax base

will

> not

> > >support an Austin/ County type of systems nor the salaries

> paid

> > >there.

> > >I really respect those who work in rural Texas. The level of EMS

> > >sophistication must rise the further one is from a hospital. It

> takes money

> > >and dedication to keep rural personnel current. TEXAS MUST

> ADDRESSS THIS

> > >ISSUE AS OUR POPULATION IN AGING.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > _____

> > >

> > >From: texasems-l [mailto:texasems-

> l ] On

> > >Behalf Of Joe

> > >Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 6:21 PM

> > >To: texasems-l

> > >Subject: Latest on Marfa EMS

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >I don't know if any of you have heard about what has been going

on

> in

> > >Marfa these days but I thought I'd give you an update on what's

> going

> > >on there. It seems that Marfa has a shortage of personnel. Since

> they

> > >don't pay enough to keep a cat alive, this isn't surprising.

With

> the

> > >shortage, it seems that there were times that Marfa was out of

> service

> > >and had to get surrounding services to cover for them. They

> applied to

> > >the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an ambulance

with

> one

> > >cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption.

So,

> > >here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap

wages

> and,

> > >when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you

> can

> > >carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax

dollars

> at

> > >work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in

> charge

> > >of making sure our citizens are takeb care of.

> > >

> > >JoeT

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Whatever.

http://www.marfarealestate.com/residential.htm

http://www.westtxrealty.com/other-cos/homes/spanish-presidio/spanish-presidio.ht\

m

>

>Reply-To: texasems-l

>To: texasems-l

>Subject: Re: Latest on Marfa EMS

>Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2006 03:32:41 -0000

>

> I must have missed something here. I realize it's been awhile

>since I took a math class, but let's see if I can do a little

>figuring anyway. According to the 2000 census, the average value of a

>home in Marfa was 35,500. Now you say that the average housing cost

>is 250,000 to 400,000, median would be around 300,000. That means

>property values are about 10 times what they were. Even without an

>increase in tax rate, that should equate to 10 times the tax dollars.

>Even with my limited math skills, I can see that somethin just don't

>add up.

>

>

> >

> > I did forget to mention that while the regular tax base in Marfa

>can barely

> > make ends meet, there is a housing boom (read average housing

>prices of 250,

> > 000- 400 000) in Marfa so that rich cats from the East and West

>coast can

> > have a summer house in the boonies. Also the Chinati foundation

>has

> > bought up most of the town but they are non-profit. Property

>values are sky

> > high and getting higher, but the schools and local infrastructure

>are

> > failing. So technically there is BIG money out here, its just not

>going to

> > anything that matters (except wine tasting, and art shows). It is

>not the

> > county I left 6 years ago.

> >

> > http://www.latimes.com/travel/destinations/south/la-tr-

>marfa10apr10,1,1254693.story?coll=la-travel-south

> >

> > http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/art-oasis

> >

> >

> > >

> > >Reply-To: texasems-l

> > >To: <texasems-l >

> > >Subject: RE: Latest on Marfa EMS

> > >Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2006 20:00:44 -0500

> > >

> > >Presidio County, of which Marfa is the county seat, has 7,722

>residents in

> > >the county (2005 estimate) and the population has fallen by 15%

>over the

> > >past decade (read fewer taxpayers). There is no industry except

>ranching

> > >and

> > >smuggling. The median household income for Presidio County is

>$24,254 while

> > >for Texas as a whole it is $39,967. The city's proposed annual

>budget for

> > >2007 is $2.7 million. EMS in Texas is not a mandated service.

>Where will

> > >Marfa get the money? Other counties? (hardly). The feds? (nope).

>Presidio

> > >County only received $55,000 last year in federal spending (most

>for

> > >customs/border patrol). Fill the boot at the local Dairy Queen?

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >There are numerous other counties in Texas like this. EMS in

>Texas MUST BE

> > >DECLARED AN ESSSENTIAL TEXAS SERVICE. Without it, Texas will

>suffer. I

> > >would

> > >rather see one certified person than none. I did my internship at

>Medical

> > >Center Hospital in Odessa. Marfa gats some low sick people and

>they are

> > >pretty much out of helicopter range. You do the best you can with

>what you

> > >have. You can't make money when it isn't there. The tax base will

>not

> > >support an Austin/ County type of systems nor the salaries

>paid

> > >there.

> > >I really respect those who work in rural Texas. The level of EMS

> > >sophistication must rise the further one is from a hospital. It

>takes money

> > >and dedication to keep rural personnel current. TEXAS MUST

>ADDRESSS THIS

> > >ISSUE AS OUR POPULATION IN AGING.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > _____

> > >

> > >From: texasems-l [mailto:texasems-

>l ] On

> > >Behalf Of Joe

> > >Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 6:21 PM

> > >To: texasems-l

> > >Subject: Latest on Marfa EMS

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >I don't know if any of you have heard about what has been going on

>in

> > >Marfa these days but I thought I'd give you an update on what's

>going

> > >on there. It seems that Marfa has a shortage of personnel. Since

>they

> > >don't pay enough to keep a cat alive, this isn't surprising. With

>the

> > >shortage, it seems that there were times that Marfa was out of

>service

> > >and had to get surrounding services to cover for them. They

>applied to

> > >the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an ambulance with

>one

> > >cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption. So,

> > >here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap wages

>and,

> > >when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you

>can

> > >carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax dollars

>at

> > >work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in

>charge

> > >of making sure our citizens are takeb care of.

> > >

> > >JoeT

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

It is true that EMS is not a mandated service. Why is that? Because the

Texas Legislature has not seen fit to declare it so.

Why has the Texas Legislature NOT seen fit to declare EMS to be an essential

service? Because the county commissioners, city councils, county judges, and

private for-profit EMS providers have consistently mounted a successful

offense against it. They do not want to have to spend money for EMS.

County commissioners, generally referred to as " road commissioners " are

totally and completely incompetent to deal with EMS matters, but because they

hold

the power of the county, they can vote their ignorance to deny their citizens

good EMS care.

The general population is also to blame. Hoi Polloy has little interest or

understanding of EMS matters until it affects them, but even after that, they

generally don't convert to EMS advocates.

I work in a county with a hospital district EMS. The hospital board is

composed of idiots, morons, cretins, and imbeciles. None of them have the

slightest notion of what EMS is about, but they are all EXPERTS in their own

minds.

Most counties in Texas have the same constraints.

EMS is the redheaded stepchild of both medicine and public safety. People

take it for granted, and few of the know or care whether it's provided by the

fire service, a hospital, or a private service.

There is no synergy between EMS and law enforcement in many areas. Some

Troopers give s**t to EMS personnel on a regular basis.

Why don't we all work together?

Most folks don't know anything about EMS. All they want is for a banblance

to show up real quick and take them to the hospital.

We in EMS have done a terrible job of educating the public about who we are

and what we do.

We have done little to convince our elected representatives to help us.

We are 50,000+ strong, but we have nor more influence than a flea.

That's nobody's fault but our own.

Will the legislature help the folks in Presidio and Terlingua? Don't hold

your breath. How much in political contributions can those folks pay? How

many representatives can they elect?

The facts are that Texas doesn't give a rat's patoot about those folks and

their problems. Because they cannot influence elections. The ranchers and

landowners who do have political clout won't ever go to bat for something like

EMS if it would cost them a single cent in taxes. They employ accountants

whose only allegiance is to the bottom line.

So EMS in the frontier will get NO help from the state.

I would say, ask your Governor to help. But that would be an absurd

statement. None of us could get a nanosecond with the Governor to talk about

EMS

issues. Plus, the Texas Governor has no power to do much of anything.

So who does have the power? The Lieutenant Governor. Think he gives a

rat's ass about EMS? If you do, I've got some beachfront property here in

Shackelford County that I'd be willing to sell you for $124,520, 000.00 per

acre.

Gene G.

We're not even on the screen.

Gene G.

[Guest guest]

Basically they are buying old adobe, refurnishing it and selling it ,

again, to the folks on the east and west coast who are playing the market/

or buying a summer house. Locals cannot afford to buy in Marfa anymore.

Check it out for yourself on the net, but get back to EMS essentials please.

>

>Reply-To: texasems-l

>To: texasems-l

>Subject: Re: Re: Latest on Marfa EMS

>Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2006 20:46:28 -0700 (PDT)

>

>I think that what he was saying is that the average cost of NEW

>CONSTRUCTION is 250-400K. However, if the average for pre-existing homes

>is 35K, it would take a LOT of new construction to raise the total tax base

>by much.

>

>Joe wrote: I must have missed something

>here. I realize it's been awhile

>since I took a math class, but let's see if I can do a little

>figuring anyway. According to the 2000 census, the average value of a

>home in Marfa was 35,500. Now you say that the average housing cost

>is 250,000 to 400,000, median would be around 300,000. That means

>property values are about 10 times what they were. Even without an

>increase in tax rate, that should equate to 10 times the tax dollars.

>Even with my limited math skills, I can see that somethin just don't

>add up.

>

>

> >

> > I did forget to mention that while the regular tax base in Marfa

>can barely

> > make ends meet, there is a housing boom (read average housing

>prices of 250,

> > 000- 400 000) in Marfa so that rich cats from the East and West

>coast can

> > have a summer house in the boonies. Also the Chinati foundation

>has

> > bought up most of the town but they are non-profit. Property

>values are sky

> > high and getting higher, but the schools and local infrastructure

>are

> > failing. So technically there is BIG money out here, its just not

>going to

> > anything that matters (except wine tasting, and art shows). It is

>not the

> > county I left 6 years ago.

> >

> > http://www.latimes.com/travel/destinations/south/la-tr-

>marfa10apr10,1,1254693.story?coll=la-travel-south

> >

> > http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/art-oasis

> >

> >

> > >

> > >Reply-To: texasems-l

> > >To: <texasems-l >

> > >Subject: RE: Latest on Marfa EMS

> > >Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2006 20:00:44 -0500

> > >

> > >Presidio County, of which Marfa is the county seat, has 7,722

>residents in

> > >the county (2005 estimate) and the population has fallen by 15%

>over the

> > >past decade (read fewer taxpayers). There is no industry except

>ranching

> > >and

> > >smuggling. The median household income for Presidio County is

>$24,254 while

> > >for Texas as a whole it is $39,967. The city's proposed annual

>budget for

> > >2007 is $2.7 million. EMS in Texas is not a mandated service.

>Where will

> > >Marfa get the money? Other counties? (hardly). The feds? (nope).

>Presidio

> > >County only received $55,000 last year in federal spending (most

>for

> > >customs/border patrol). Fill the boot at the local Dairy Queen?

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >There are numerous other counties in Texas like this. EMS in

>Texas MUST BE

> > >DECLARED AN ESSSENTIAL TEXAS SERVICE. Without it, Texas will

>suffer. I

> > >would

> > >rather see one certified person than none. I did my internship at

>Medical

> > >Center Hospital in Odessa. Marfa gats some low sick people and

>they are

> > >pretty much out of helicopter range. You do the best you can with

>what you

> > >have. You can't make money when it isn't there. The tax base will

>not

> > >support an Austin/ County type of systems nor the salaries

>paid

> > >there.

> > >I really respect those who work in rural Texas. The level of EMS

> > >sophistication must rise the further one is from a hospital. It

>takes money

> > >and dedication to keep rural personnel current. TEXAS MUST

>ADDRESSS THIS

> > >ISSUE AS OUR POPULATION IN AGING.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > _____

> > >

> > >From: texasems-l [mailto:texasems-

>l ] On

> > >Behalf Of Joe

> > >Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 6:21 PM

> > >To: texasems-l

> > >Subject: Latest on Marfa EMS

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >I don't know if any of you have heard about what has been going on

>in

> > >Marfa these days but I thought I'd give you an update on what's

>going

> > >on there. It seems that Marfa has a shortage of personnel. Since

>they

> > >don't pay enough to keep a cat alive, this isn't surprising. With

>the

> > >shortage, it seems that there were times that Marfa was out of

>service

> > >and had to get surrounding services to cover for them. They

>applied to

> > >the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an ambulance with

>one

> > >cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption. So,

> > >here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap wages

>and,

> > >when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you

>can

> > >carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax dollars

>at

> > >work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in

>charge

> > >of making sure our citizens are takeb care of.

> > >

> > >JoeT

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Hmmm...

If you can raise the average home value by a factor of 5, you can raise the

tax bill by a factor of 5, too. A great way to force those on a fixed

income out and maintain a high income level for potential buyers (i.e.

excluding minorities, families with kids, etc.).

Disgusting. Free-market and legal, but disgusting.

Mike :/

>

> Whatever.

>

> http://www.marfarealestate.com/residential.htm

>

>

>

http://www.westtxrealty.com/other-cos/homes/spanish-presidio/spanish-presidio.ht\

m

>

> >From: " Joe " <joetemt_p@... <joetemt_p%40yahoo.com>>

> >Reply-To: texasems-l <texasems-l%40yahoogroups.com>

> >To: texasems-l <texasems-l%40yahoogroups.com>

> >Subject: Re: Latest on Marfa EMS

> >Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2006 03:32:41 -0000

>

> >

> > I must have missed something here. I realize it's been awhile

> >since I took a math class, but let's see if I can do a little

> >figuring anyway. According to the 2000 census, the average value of a

> >home in Marfa was 35,500. Now you say that the average housing cost

> >is 250,000 to 400,000, median would be around 300,000. That means

> >property values are about 10 times what they were. Even without an

> >increase in tax rate, that should equate to 10 times the tax dollars.

> >Even with my limited math skills, I can see that somethin just don't

> >add up.

> >

> >

> > >

> > > I did forget to mention that while the regular tax base in Marfa

> >can barely

> > > make ends meet, there is a housing boom (read average housing

> >prices of 250,

> > > 000- 400 000) in Marfa so that rich cats from the East and West

> >coast can

> > > have a summer house in the boonies. Also the Chinati foundation

> >has

> > > bought up most of the town but they are non-profit. Property

> >values are sky

> > > high and getting higher, but the schools and local infrastructure

> >are

> > > failing. So technically there is BIG money out here, its just not

> >going to

> > > anything that matters (except wine tasting, and art shows). It is

> >not the

> > > county I left 6 years ago.

> > >

> > > http://www.latimes.com/travel/destinations/south/la-tr-

> >marfa10apr10,1,1254693.story?coll=la-travel-south

> > >

> > > http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/art-oasis

> > >

> > >

> > > >

> > > >Reply-To: texasems-l <texasems-l%40yahoogroups.com>

> > > >To: <texasems-l <texasems-l%40yahoogroups.com>>

> > > >Subject: RE: Latest on Marfa EMS

> > > >Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2006 20:00:44 -0500

> > > >

> > > >Presidio County, of which Marfa is the county seat, has 7,722

> >residents in

> > > >the county (2005 estimate) and the population has fallen by 15%

> >over the

> > > >past decade (read fewer taxpayers). There is no industry except

> >ranching

> > > >and

> > > >smuggling. The median household income for Presidio County is

> >$24,254 while

> > > >for Texas as a whole it is $39,967. The city's proposed annual

> >budget for

> > > >2007 is $2.7 million. EMS in Texas is not a mandated service.

> >Where will

> > > >Marfa get the money? Other counties? (hardly). The feds? (nope).

> >Presidio

> > > >County only received $55,000 last year in federal spending (most

> >for

> > > >customs/border patrol). Fill the boot at the local Dairy Queen?

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >There are numerous other counties in Texas like this. EMS in

> >Texas MUST BE

> > > >DECLARED AN ESSSENTIAL TEXAS SERVICE. Without it, Texas will

> >suffer. I

> > > >would

> > > >rather see one certified person than none. I did my internship at

> >Medical

> > > >Center Hospital in Odessa. Marfa gats some low sick people and

> >they are

> > > >pretty much out of helicopter range. You do the best you can with

> >what you

> > > >have. You can't make money when it isn't there. The tax base will

> >not

> > > >support an Austin/ County type of systems nor the salaries

> >paid

> > > >there.

> > > >I really respect those who work in rural Texas. The level of EMS

> > > >sophistication must rise the further one is from a hospital. It

> >takes money

> > > >and dedication to keep rural personnel current. TEXAS MUST

> >ADDRESSS THIS

> > > >ISSUE AS OUR POPULATION IN AGING.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > _____

> > > >

> > > >From: texasems-l <texasems-l%40yahoogroups.com>[mailto:

> texasems-

> >l <l%40yahoogroups.com>] On

> > > >Behalf Of Joe

> > > >Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 6:21 PM

> > > >To: texasems-l <texasems-l%40yahoogroups.com>

> > > >Subject: Latest on Marfa EMS

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >I don't know if any of you have heard about what has been going on

> >in

> > > >Marfa these days but I thought I'd give you an update on what's

> >going

> > > >on there. It seems that Marfa has a shortage of personnel. Since

> >they

> > > >don't pay enough to keep a cat alive, this isn't surprising. With

> >the

> > > >shortage, it seems that there were times that Marfa was out of

> >service

> > > >and had to get surrounding services to cover for them. They

> >applied to

> > > >the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an ambulance with

> >one

> > > >cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption. So,

> > > >here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap wages

> >and,

> > > >when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you

> >can

> > > >carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax dollars

> >at

> > > >work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in

> >charge

> > > >of making sure our citizens are takeb care of.

> > > >

> > > >JoeT

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

Gene,

You State:

I work in a county with a hospital district EMS. The hospital board is

composed of idiots, morons, cretins, and imbeciles. None of them have the

slightest notion of what EMS is about, but they are all EXPERTS in their own

minds.

Are you absolutely sure that is what you ment to say? You know how you have a

habit of beating around the bush.

Henry

Re: Latest on Marfa EMS

It is true that EMS is not a mandated service. Why is that? Because the

Texas Legislature has not seen fit to declare it so.

Why has the Texas Legislature NOT seen fit to declare EMS to be an essential

service? Because the county commissioners, city councils, county judges, and

private for-profit EMS providers have consistently mounted a successful

offense against it. They do not want to have to spend money for EMS.

County commissioners, generally referred to as " road commissioners " are

totally and completely incompetent to deal with EMS matters, but because they

hold

the power of the county, they can vote their ignorance to deny their citizens

good EMS care.

The general population is also to blame. Hoi Polloy has little interest or

understanding of EMS matters until it affects them, but even after that, they

generally don't convert to EMS advocates.

I work in a county with a hospital district EMS. The hospital board is

composed of idiots, morons, cretins, and imbeciles. None of them have the

slightest notion of what EMS is about, but they are all EXPERTS in their own

minds.

Most counties in Texas have the same constraints.

EMS is the redheaded stepchild of both medicine and public safety. People

take it for granted, and few of the know or care whether it's provided by the

fire service, a hospital, or a private service.

There is no synergy between EMS and law enforcement in many areas. Some

Troopers give s**t to EMS personnel on a regular basis.

Why don't we all work together?

Most folks don't know anything about EMS. All they want is for a banblance

to show up real quick and take them to the hospital.

We in EMS have done a terrible job of educating the public about who we are

and what we do.

We have done little to convince our elected representatives to help us.

We are 50,000+ strong, but we have nor more influence than a flea.

That's nobody's fault but our own.

Will the legislature help the folks in Presidio and Terlingua? Don't hold

your breath. How much in political contributions can those folks pay? How

many representatives can they elect?

The facts are that Texas doesn't give a rat's patoot about those folks and

their problems. Because they cannot influence elections. The ranchers and

landowners who do have political clout won't ever go to bat for something like

EMS if it would cost them a single cent in taxes. They employ accountants

whose only allegiance is to the bottom line.

So EMS in the frontier will get NO help from the state.

I would say, ask your Governor to help. But that would be an absurd

statement. None of us could get a nanosecond with the Governor to talk about

EMS

issues. Plus, the Texas Governor has no power to do much of anything.

So who does have the power? The Lieutenant Governor. Think he gives a

rat's ass about EMS? If you do, I've got some beachfront property here in

Shackelford County that I'd be willing to sell you for $124,520, 000.00 per

acre.

Gene G.

We're not even on the screen.

Gene G.

[Guest guest]

My only objection to Gene's post was that " redheaded stepchild " statement.

Jane Hill

--------- Re: Latest on Marfa EMS

It is true that EMS is not a mandated service. Why is that? Because the

Texas Legislature has not seen fit to declare it so.

Why has the Texas Legislature NOT seen fit to declare EMS to be an essential

service? Because the county commissioners, city councils, county judges, and

private for-profit EMS providers have consistently mounted a successful

offense against it. They do not want to have to spend money for EMS.

County commissioners, generally referred to as " road commissioners " are

totally and completely incompetent to deal with EMS matters, but because they

hold

the power of the county, they can vote their ignorance to deny their citizens

good EMS care.

The general population is also to blame. Hoi Polloy has little interest or

understanding of EMS matters until it affects them, but even after that, they

generally don't convert to EMS advocates.

I work in a county with a hospital district EMS. The hospital board is

composed of idiots, morons, cretins, and imbeciles. None of them have the

slightest notion of what EMS is about, but they are all EXPERTS in their own

minds.

Most counties in Texas have the same constraints.

EMS is the redheaded stepchild of both medicine and public safety. People

take it for granted, and few of the know or care whether it's provided by the

fire service, a hospital, or a private service.

There is no synergy between EMS and law enforcement in many areas. Some

Troopers give s**t to EMS personnel on a regular basis.

Why don't we all work together?

Most folks don't know anything about EMS. All they want is for a banblance

to show up real quick and take them to the hospital.

We in EMS have done a terrible job of educating the public about who we are

and what we do.

We have done little to convince our elected representatives to help us.

We are 50,000+ strong, but we have nor more influence than a flea.

That's nobody's fault but our own.

Will the legislature help the folks in Presidio and Terlingua? Don't hold

your breath. How much in political contributions can those folks pay? How

many representatives can they elect?

The facts are that Texas doesn't give a rat's patoot about those folks and

their problems. Because they cannot influence elections. The ranchers and

landowners who do have political clout won't ever go to bat for something like

EMS if it would cost them a single cent in taxes. They employ accountants

whose only allegiance is to the bottom line.

So EMS in the frontier will get NO help from the state.

I would say, ask your Governor to help. But that would be an absurd

statement. None of us could get a nanosecond with the Governor to talk about EMS

issues. Plus, the Texas Governor has no power to do much of anything.

So who does have the power? The Lieutenant Governor. Think he gives a

rat's ass about EMS? If you do, I've got some beachfront property here in

Shackelford County that I'd be willing to sell you for $124,520, 000.00 per

acre.

Gene G.

We're not even on the screen.

Gene G.

[Guest guest]

The bottom line on this thing is that Marfa is getting away with it.

The story got picked up by a local television station and reported.

Naturally, being news media, they only reported one side of the story

and that was the city's version. They did NO research into why there

was a shortage, just " poor Marfa cant get people to run the

wambulance " . They even had one of the medics on camera saying she

wouldn't be comfortable running that way, but it seems nobody was

interested. Then it gets to our fantastic regulatory agency at the

state, and, since it's been in the news, they knee jerk the waiver.

Again, obviously no research into the why of the shortage. As long as

the state lets people get by with this kind of thing, they're not going

to change. Until we get declared an essential service, nothing is going

to change. Forget those folks raising taxes to support EMS. The ones

that would have to raise taxes are the land owners and there is no way

they are gonna get into their own pocket books for the citizens.

Joe T

[Guest guest]

Dear Joe,

That is a very negative posting. Speaking as the administrator for a small

rural EMS, some things may be beyond their control. I can only use my own

service for reference. However, we have a very limited budget. While we may

pay comparable wages to the other services in our area, others may not. If it

wasn't for the Emergency Services District that we help create in 2004, we

wouldn't have any paid employees and would still be operating under a personnel

variance with one paramedic, one intermediate, and 3 basics responding to calls

when they weren't at their real jobs. But, even with help from our ESD, funds

are still very limited. That's where grants and other avenues of funding come

into play. Keep in mind that many services may not have the personnel to write

for grants, nor do they have an ESD to assist them with their payroll. Many

rural departments do the best they can with what they have and that is all that

anyone can ask. If anyone that is nearby Marfa

has the knowlege or education to assist them in resolving their problems, then

this is the time to step-up and do what is right. Maybe they just need a little

help from their friends.

Hunter, EMT-P

Danbury EMS, Inc.

Joe wrote:

I don't know if any of you have heard about what has been going on in

Marfa these days but I thought I'd give you an update on what's going

on there. It seems that Marfa has a shortage of personnel. Since they

don't pay enough to keep a cat alive, this isn't surprising. With the

shortage, it seems that there were times that Marfa was out of service

and had to get surrounding services to cover for them. They applied to

the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an ambulance with one

cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption. So,

here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap wages and,

when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you can

carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax dollars at

work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in charge

of making sure our citizens are takeb care of.

JoeT

[Guest guest]

Well Gene...at least we are in the same boat with police, fire departments,

public works, hospitals, trauma centers, garbage collection, etc....because none

of those are " Essential Services " either...

Elected officials are ignorant and don't know anything about EMS...why is

that??? Because EMS personnel don't run for office...there is no entry

requirement to politics...there is no 100 question exam to test your knowledge

on all the areas you will be required to be knowledgeable in during your

term...besides it would have about 15 subscales (EMS, FD, LEO, Garbage, Streets,

Water, land planning, zoning, etc) and we all know that subscale testing is not

a valid way to test...right??!??

So...how do we make a difference...we build relationships, we go to meetings,

and we educate the citizenry, elected officials and those who influence the

elected officials as often as we possibly can...if there is no unified group

that you are comfortable with then get to work on your own with your own

people...besides...if your city and/or county officials don't support your

desires...going to the state will be MUCH harder...

The issue with public safety is NO ONE sits around thinking " Well, we don't have

anything to do this afternoon, lets go to the EMS Station (Fire Station, Public

Works Office) and learn more about these services, what they need to be

successful, and what we can do to make it better for them... " It isn't human

nature and all the grousing ain't gonna fix that.

Dudley

Re: Latest on Marfa EMS

It is true that EMS is not a mandated service. Why is that? Because the

Texas Legislature has not seen fit to declare it so.

Why has the Texas Legislature NOT seen fit to declare EMS to be an essential

service? Because the county commissioners, city councils, county judges, and

private for-profit EMS providers have consistently mounted a successful

offense against it. They do not want to have to spend money for EMS.

County commissioners, generally referred to as " road commissioners " are

totally and completely incompetent to deal with EMS matters, but because they

hold

the power of the county, they can vote their ignorance to deny their citizens

good EMS care.

The general population is also to blame. Hoi Polloy has little interest or

understanding of EMS matters until it affects them, but even after that, they

generally don't convert to EMS advocates.

I work in a county with a hospital district EMS. The hospital board is

composed of idiots, morons, cretins, and imbeciles. None of them have the

slightest notion of what EMS is about, but they are all EXPERTS in their own

minds.

Most counties in Texas have the same constraints.

EMS is the redheaded stepchild of both medicine and public safety. People

take it for granted, and few of the know or care whether it's provided by the

fire service, a hospital, or a private service.

There is no synergy between EMS and law enforcement in many areas. Some

Troopers give s**t to EMS personnel on a regular basis.

Why don't we all work together?

Most folks don't know anything about EMS. All they want is for a banblance

to show up real quick and take them to the hospital.

We in EMS have done a terrible job of educating the public about who we are

and what we do.

We have done little to convince our elected representatives to help us.

We are 50,000+ strong, but we have nor more influence than a flea.

That's nobody's fault but our own.

Will the legislature help the folks in Presidio and Terlingua? Don't hold

your breath. How much in political contributions can those folks pay? How

many representatives can they elect?

The facts are that Texas doesn't give a rat's patoot about those folks and

their problems. Because they cannot influence elections. The ranchers and

landowners who do have political clout won't ever go to bat for something like

EMS if it would cost them a single cent in taxes. They employ accountants

whose only allegiance is to the bottom line.

So EMS in the frontier will get NO help from the state.

I would say, ask your Governor to help. But that would be an absurd

statement. None of us could get a nanosecond with the Governor to talk about EMS

issues. Plus, the Texas Governor has no power to do much of anything.

So who does have the power? The Lieutenant Governor. Think he gives a

rat's ass about EMS? If you do, I've got some beachfront property here in

Shackelford County that I'd be willing to sell you for $124,520, 000.00 per

acre.

Gene G.

We're not even on the screen.

Gene G.

[Guest guest]

" They applied to the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an

ambulance with one

cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption. So,

here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap wages

and,

when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you can

carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax dollars at

work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in

charge

of making sure our citizens are takeb care of. "

" Then it gets to our fantastic regulatory agency at the

state, and, since it's been in the news, they knee jerk the waiver.

Again, obviously no research into the why of the shortage. As long as

the state lets people get by with this kind of thing, they're not

going

to change. Until we get declared an essential service, nothing is

going

to change. "

What exactly would you have done? Close them down and have

absolutely no help what so ever? Do you actually know what goes

into a waiver of this sort? Seems to be a little harsh.

Waivers usually have deadlines on them and they are not permanent.

They are used in this state and in other states as well. Yes

sometimes they are over used or used as a crutch for some, but they

do serve a purpose. Does it excuse what Marfa, or any other small

EMS organization, is doing with their pay? No, but to say to the

community, " Sorry, we won't allow them to have just one cert on

board so you will do without " does not seem to me to be the right

answer.

Just my thoughts….

I would like to hear what you would do…

Chris

>

> The bottom line on this thing is that Marfa is getting away with

it.

> The story got picked up by a local television station and

reported.

> Naturally, being news media, they only reported one side of the

story

> and that was the city's version. They did NO research into why

there

> was a shortage, just " poor Marfa cant get people to run the

> wambulance " . They even had one of the medics on camera saying she

> wouldn't be comfortable running that way, but it seems nobody was

> interested. Then it gets to our fantastic regulatory agency at the

> state, and, since it's been in the news, they knee jerk the

waiver.

> Again, obviously no research into the why of the shortage. As long

as

> the state lets people get by with this kind of thing, they're not

going

> to change. Until we get declared an essential service, nothing is

going

> to change. Forget those folks raising taxes to support EMS. The

ones

> that would have to raise taxes are the land owners and there is no

way

> they are gonna get into their own pocket books for the citizens.

>

> Joe T

>

[Guest guest]

" Until we get delcared an essential service, nothing is going to change. "

Really...so if there is a problem with water than the only way to make sure

Marfa has water is for the state legislature to MANDATE that Marfa provides

water...no the citizens realize they need water...

If we can't educate the masses that we are necessary...(and where are the facts

that show we are BTW....cardiac arrest survival in 1974=5%....cardiac arrest

survival in 2004=5%...hmmmmm) then we won't be...lets not worry about a

law...lets worry about the proof.

Dudley

Re: Latest on Marfa EMS

The bottom line on this thing is that Marfa is getting away with it.

The story got picked up by a local television station and reported.

Naturally, being news media, they only reported one side of the story

and that was the city's version. They did NO research into why there

was a shortage, just " poor Marfa cant get people to run the

wambulance " . They even had one of the medics on camera saying she

wouldn't be comfortable running that way, but it seems nobody was

interested. Then it gets to our fantastic regulatory agency at the

state, and, since it's been in the news, they knee jerk the waiver.

Again, obviously no research into the why of the shortage. As long as

the state lets people get by with this kind of thing, they're not going

to change. Until we get declared an essential service, nothing is going

to change. Forget those folks raising taxes to support EMS. The ones

that would have to raise taxes are the land owners and there is no way

they are gonna get into their own pocket books for the citizens.

Joe T

________________________________________________________________________

Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security

tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free

AOL Mail and more.

[Guest guest]

Just wondering, have you been to Marfa, Texas? To

make it an Essential Service sounds great, (like job

security) BUT who is going to transfer down to Marfa,

Terlingua or Presidio, Texas? No offense to those

guys, but you do choose where you live.....I

personally don't want to move down there. They have

great people, but you are in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE! I

agree with Dudley we need to educate the public about

EMS. If the EMS community wants to be taken seriously

and professionally (like we feel that we deserve),

then we have to drop the attitude and stop being so

critical when we ourselves are not fully educated on

the topic. Also, at the State level - this sort of

attitude is very detrimental to the EMS community!

I think that some of us forget who grants our

license/certification to run in the State of

Texas......

THEDUDMAN@... wrote:

> " Until we get delcared an essential service,

> nothing is going to change. "

>

> Really...so if there is a problem with water than

> the only way to make sure Marfa has water is for the

> state legislature to MANDATE that Marfa provides

> water...no the citizens realize they need water...

>

> If we can't educate the masses that we are

> necessary...(and where are the facts that show we

> are BTW....cardiac arrest survival in

> 1974=5%....cardiac arrest survival in

> 2004=5%...hmmmmm) then we won't be...lets not worry

> about a law...lets worry about the proof.

>

> Dudley

>

>

> Re: Latest on Marfa EMS

>

>

> The bottom line on this thing is that Marfa is

> getting away with it.

> The story got picked up by a local television

> station and reported.

> Naturally, being news media, they only reported one

> side of the story

> and that was the city's version. They did NO

> research into why there

> was a shortage, just " poor Marfa cant get people to

> run the

> wambulance " . They even had one of the medics on

> camera saying she

> wouldn't be comfortable running that way, but it

> seems nobody was

> interested. Then it gets to our fantastic regulatory

> agency at the

> state, and, since it's been in the news, they knee

> jerk the waiver.

> Again, obviously no research into the why of the

> shortage. As long as

> the state lets people get by with this kind of

> thing, they're not going

> to change. Until we get declared an essential

> service, nothing is going

> to change. Forget those folks raising taxes to

> support EMS. The ones

> that would have to raise taxes are the land owners

> and there is no way

> they are gonna get into their own pocket books for

> the citizens.

>

> Joe T

>

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________

> Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of

> free safety and security tools, free access to

> millions of high-quality videos from across the web,

> free AOL Mail and more.

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I've been in EMS since 1980 as an EMT and 1983 as a paramedic. From

field medic to educator and administrator, I've always seen salaries and

conditions way below our allied health counterparts. In my last

administrator job, I was paid a slightly less than any other manager

just because it was EMS, even though I had more education, experience

and responsibility than most. But, like everybody else in EMS I put up

with it.

After being a classroom teacher for 4 years now, and still working in

EMS part time, I see that salaries and conditions on this end are very

very good in comparison. Right now I make 48K for 8.5 months of work

and no more than 8 hours a day most of the time. The state also sets a

minimum salary for a starting teacher at 32K. How did teachers do this?

Just like RNs, by collectively whining, griping, fusing and fighting

for what they wanted. If everybody in EMS held their breath till they

turn blue, fell on the ground pissing and moaning for better salaries

and conditions in front of the press and the right people, things might

change. The only problem with that is, how do you get a suburban

firefighter/paramedic who makes 50K and runs 5-7 calls a day to do whine

and gripe about their position?

-MH

>>> 10/6/2006 10:36 am >>>

" Until we get delcared an essential service, nothing is going to

change. "

Really...so if there is a problem with water than the only way to make

sure Marfa has water is for the state legislature to MANDATE that Marfa

provides water...no the citizens realize they need water...

If we can't educate the masses that we are necessary...(and where are

the facts that show we are BTW....cardiac arrest survival in

1974=5%....cardiac arrest survival in 2004=5%...hmmmmm) then we won't

be...lets not worry about a law...lets worry about the proof.

Dudley

Re: Latest on Marfa EMS

The bottom line on this thing is that Marfa is getting away with it.

The story got picked up by a local television station and reported.

Naturally, being news media, they only reported one side of the story

and that was the city's version. They did NO research into why there

was a shortage, just " poor Marfa cant get people to run the

wambulance " . They even had one of the medics on camera saying she

wouldn't be comfortable running that way, but it seems nobody was

interested. Then it gets to our fantastic regulatory agency at the

state, and, since it's been in the news, they knee jerk the waiver.

Again, obviously no research into the why of the shortage. As long as

the state lets people get by with this kind of thing, they're not going

to change. Until we get declared an essential service, nothing is going

to change. Forget those folks raising taxes to support EMS. The ones

that would have to raise taxes are the land owners and there is no way

they are gonna get into their own pocket books for the citizens.

Joe T

________________________________________________________________________

Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and

security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from

across the web, free AOL Mail and more.

[Guest guest]

Alpine and Marfa and environs are being Californicated. The same thing

happened in the wine country there. Eventually the tax revenues will increase,

but by then there will be a whole new population of outsiders.

I was in Sonoma not long ago, and a little house that would sell for $35,000

here brings right at $1,000,000.

Since Texas has no county planning mandate, county commissioners (read " road

commissioners " ) have absolutely no clue how to manage the situation.

As usual, EMS is the least important thing on their minds.

I sometimes think that the only way to get their attention is for EMS to pull

out. See how they like it when there is NO EMS.

The State of Texas lacks a statewide EMS plan. And I don't see the Lege

doing anything to change that. DSHS EMS is undermanned, tasked with an

impossible job, and cannot take on anything of such a magnitude.

EMS is one of those things that people never think about until they need it.

Most assume it is a governmental function and will always be there, just as

they thought their hospitals would always be there.

I think we need a statewide EMS plan just as we have a state school plan.

But it won't happen in my lifetime.

Gene Gandy.

>

> Hmmm...

>

> If you can raise the average home value by a factor of 5, you can raise the

> tax bill by a factor of 5, too. A great way to force those on a fixed

> income out and maintain a high income level for potential buyers (i.e.

> excluding minorities, families with kids, etc.).

>

> Disgusting. Free-market and legal, but disgusting.

>

> Mike :/

>

>

> >

> > Whatever.

> >

> > http://www.marfareahttp://www.mhttp://www.mhtt

> >

> >

> >

>

http://www.westtxrehttp://wwhttp://wwwhttp://www.weshttp://wwhttp://www.westthtt\

p

> >

> > >From: " Joe " <joetemt_p@... <joetemt_p%40yahoo.joe>>

> > >Reply-To: texasems-l@yahoogrotexasem <texasems-l%texasems-l%<wbtex>

> > >To: texasems-l@yahoogrotexasem <texasems-l%texasems-l%<wbtex>

> > >Subject: Re: Latest on Marfa EMS

> > >Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2006 03:32:41 -0000

> >

> > >

> > > I must have missed something here. I realize it's been awhile

> > >since I took a math class, but let's see if I can do a little

> > >figuring anyway. According to the 2000 census, the average value of a

> > >home in Marfa was 35,500. Now you say that the average housing cost

> > >is 250,000 to 400,000, median would be around 300,000. That means

> > >property values are about 10 times what they were. Even without an

> > >increase in tax rate, that should equate to 10 times the tax dollars.

> > >Even with my limited math skills, I can see that somethin just don't

> > >add up.

> > >

> > >

> > > >

> > > > I did forget to mention that while the regular tax base in Marfa

> > >can barely

> > > > make ends meet, there is a housing boom (read average housing

> > >prices of 250,

> > > > 000- 400 000) in Marfa so that rich cats from the East and West

> > >coast can

> > > > have a summer house in the boonies. Also the Chinati foundation

> > >has

> > > > bought up most of the town but they are non-profit. Property

> > >values are sky

> > > > high and getting higher, but the schools and local infrastructure

> > >are

> > > > failing. So technically there is BIG money out here, its just not

> > >going to

> > > > anything that matters (except wine tasting, and art shows). It is

> > >not the

> > > > county I left 6 years ago.

> > > >

> > > > http://www.latimes.http://www.http://www.lahttp://wwhtt

> > >marfa10apr10,marfa10aprmarfa10apr1marfa10aprmarfa

> > > >

> > > > http://www.travelanhttp://wwhttp://www.trhttp://ww

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > >From: " Bledsoe, DO " <bbledsoe@..b>

> > > > >Reply-To: texasems-l@yahoogrotexasem <texasems-l%texasems-l%<wbtex>

> > > > >To: <texasems-l@yahoogrotexasem <texasems-l%texasems-l%<wbtex>>

> > > > >Subject: RE: Latest on Marfa EMS

> > > > >Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2006 20:00:44 -0500

> > > > >

> > > > >Presidio County, of which Marfa is the county seat, has 7,722

> > >residents in

> > > > >the county (2005 estimate) and the population has fallen by 15%

> > >over the

> > > > >past decade (read fewer taxpayers). There is no industry except

> > >ranching

> > > > >and

> > > > >smuggling. The median household income for Presidio County is

> > >$24,254 while

> > > > >for Texas as a whole it is $39,967. The city's proposed annual

> > >budget for

> > > > >2007 is $2.7 million. EMS in Texas is not a mandated service.

> > >Where will

> > > > >Marfa get the money? Other counties? (hardly). The feds? (nope).

> > >Presidio

> > > > >County only received $55,000 last year in federal spending (most

> > >for

> > > > >customs/border patrol). Fill the boot at the local Dairy Queen?

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >There are numerous other counties in Texas like this. EMS in

> > >Texas MUST BE

> > > > >DECLARED AN ESSSENTIAL TEXAS SERVICE. Without it, Texas will

> > >suffer. I

> > > > >would

> > > > >rather see one certified person than none. I did my internship at

> > >Medical

> > > > >Center Hospital in Odessa. Marfa gats some low sick people and

> > >they are

> > > > >pretty much out of helicopter range. You do the best you can with

> > >what you

> > > > >have. You can't make money when it isn't there. The tax base will

> > >not

> > > > >support an Austin/ County type of systems nor the salaries

> > >paid

> > > > >there.

> > > > >I really respect those who work in rural Texas. The level of EMS

> > > > >sophistication must rise the further one is from a hospital. It

> > >takes money

> > > > >and dedication to keep rural personnel current. TEXAS MUST

> > >ADDRESSS THIS

> > > > >ISSUE AS OUR POPULATION IN AGING.

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > _____

> > > > >

> > > > >From: texasems-l@yahoogrotexasem <texasems-l%texasems-l%<wbtex>

> [mailto:

> > texasems-

> > >l@...@y <l%40yahoogroups.l%4>] On

> > > > >Behalf Of Joe

> > > > >Sent: Thursday, October 05, 2006 6:21 PM

> > > > >To: texasems-l@yahoogrotexasem <texasems-l%texasems-l%<wbtex>

> > > > >Subject: Latest on Marfa EMS

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >I don't know if any of you have heard about what has been going on

> > >in

> > > > >Marfa these days but I thought I'd give you an update on what's

> > >going

> > > > >on there. It seems that Marfa has a shortage of personnel. Since

> > >they

> > > > >don't pay enough to keep a cat alive, this isn't surprising. With

> > >the

> > > > >shortage, it seems that there were times that Marfa was out of

> > >service

> > > > >and had to get surrounding services to cover for them. They

> > >applied to

> > > > >the state for an exemption to allow them ro run an ambulance with

> > >one

> > > > >cert. DSHS in their infinite wisdom has GRANTED the exemption. So,

> > > > >here's the message to other providers in the state. Pay crap wages

> > >and,

> > > > >when you can't get people, cry to DSHS and they'll fix it so you

> > >can

> > > > >carry on business. Just another lovely example of your tax dollars

> > >at

> > > > >work and the expertise of the people that are supposed to be in

> > >charge

> > > > >of making sure our citizens are takeb care of.

> > > > >

> > > > >JoeT

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >