“From my standpoint … the county is essentially going to be determining the direction of the service either way,” said Town Manager Carl Dean. “There’s no control there for either the board or the town.”
Currently, the town owns an ambulance, which is based at the fire station off Holly Springs Rd. Town employees drive the ambulance, which also is served by a county paramedic. The county dispatches ambulances based on the closest ambulance to the call. For example, if the Holly Springs ambulance is returning from dropping off a patient at a Raleigh hospital and an emergency call is placed, if the town ambulance is closest to the call, the ambulance responds to that call, regardless of municipality.
When an ambulance is not in a certain region, another ambulance travels to that area. If the Holly Springs ambulance is not in town, the county sends an ambulance to a station at Hilltop-Needmore or at NC 55 near US 1. In addition to the town’s ambulance, which is housed off Holly Springs Rd., a county ambulance sometimes is at the fire station off Avent Ferry Rd.
In discussions with the county, councilmen were told that Holly Springs would not be guaranteed to have an in-town location designated as a key station, one where an ambulance is based. And, even if the town were to have maintained ambulance service, the town’s ambulance still could be assigned to a station outside of town “based on service needs,” a town document said.
“Under either scenario, the county will ultimately control where ambulances are based, and there are no safeguards or commitments by the county to guarantee that Holly Springs will always be a base for a rescue unit,” the document said, later adding that “core issues of concern surrounding service levels remain.”
Staff indicated that the town will lose about $200,000 in revenue from the county for ambulance service whether the town retained ambulance service or allowed the county to assume the service. And, about $48,000 would be spent providing ambulance service in subsequent years should the town retain its ambulance, though future years’ costs were more difficult to predict, “but the numbers suggest the town option will continue to be more expensive than the county alternative,” the document said. “I think you folks are smart enough to go back and look at the numbers and see what you need to do,” Dean said.
Councilman Parrish Womble questioned what the county could guarantee.
“Nothing,” Dean said.
“That’s what I’m saying,” Womble responded.
“Our service does not change, and we can save … taxpayer money,” said Councilman Chet VanFossen.
“To me that’s what this is all about. The service will not change and we can save the taxpayers a significant amount of money.”
VanFossen, and councilmen James Cobb and Tim Sack voted to give the county ambulance service.
Womble and Councilwoman Linda Hunt Williams voted against the motion. Internet gaming businesses limited
The council passed an ordinance that limits internet or electronic gaming businesses where a payout may be awarded to a winner. Limits include location and distance from churches, schools and residential communities.
Staff said the state did not regulate this type of internet gaming because it is a game of very high odds instead of a game of chance. Staff said they expect the state to regulate internet gaming this legislative term.
VanFossen said he envisioned an internet gaming business as having rows of computers where customers go to gamble.
“Essentially, that’s what it is,” said Jeff Jones, senior planner for the town, adding that the businesses essentially are casinos.
He said some businesses call their sites internet cafes or business centers. Customers pay a sitting fee for a terminal and any winner is paid in cash, staff said. Staff said the businesses were robbed often. “They’re masking what’s going on,” Jones said. “It’s an epidemic that’s going across the state.”
He said several people in recent months have asked the town how they can establish a gaming business in Holly Springs.
“If we don’t have an ordinance, there’s no regulation,” Sack said. “They could be down at the Texaco station at the corner.” Other meeting news The council tabled amendments to Bass Lake Park rental rates and policies. Some of the amendments would affect people renting the retreat center for special events. The changes would address issues including facility rental rates, an off-duty police officer during events, rental times and ending alcohol service at 10 p.m. Other rates changes, if passed, would affect general park visitors, such as those who rent boats.
VanFossen questioned why the town needed to raise its rates.
“If we’re paying our bills and we manage to put a little to the side, I think that’s where we should be,” he said.
“I am not in favor of raising fees if we don’t need to,” Williams said.
Staff said the rate increases were needed because of increased time spent by staff at events, cleaning and repairing, and because of an increased volume of park visitors.
The council and staff are to discuss the rates as part of talks about next fiscal year’s budget.
Also at the meeting, the council approved an ordinance amendment regarding Planning Board attendance requirements. And, as part of its consent agenda, the council entered a surveying contract for the extension of Ralph Stephens Loop Rd. and adopted an ordinance with the North Carolina Department of Transportation that establishes a 25 mph speed limit on a portion of Main St. through downtown.
In discussion, Womble asked for more pedestrian crossing signs, and Sack spoke about the recent state certificate of need hearing for determining where three additional operating rooms will be located in Wake County. Of the four applicants, two – Rex Healthcare and Novant – petitioned the state to allow the operating rooms in Holly Springs. The state’s decision is to be made in late July.
“It seems to me that everybody has finally come to the realization… that we are underserved from the medical standpoint,” Mayor Dick Sears said.
At the meeting, staff also discussed the Holly Springs Farmers Market, which opens May 1, and updated the council on the town’s response to the federal census; 81 percent of households have returned the census so far.
During the public comment period, a resident asked the council to end the practice of allowing certain town employees to drive home work vehicles. He said the move would save taxpayer money. Another resident addressed the council in support of backyard chickens. Designated days for tick-borne diseases and volunteers Sears designated May as the town’s tick-borne diseases awareness month.
“Now through June is the peak period for tick activity,” Sears said. “Be aware, check your clothing … make sure the children are supervised when using insecticides.”
A town document said that the first sign of infection is usually a rash at the site of a tick bite from three to 32 days after the bite. The rash expands over a period of several days and can resemble a bull’s eye.
Some combination of fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes also can occur, the document said.
Sears also designated April 24 as Helping Hands and Linking Arms Day. On Saturday, more than 50,000 people of all ages participated in service in southern states.
“This second annual day of service provides thousands of volunteers in community organizations, faith-based groups and local government agencies the opportunity to link arms and lend a helping hand to those in need,” a town document said. “By rallying around individuals in need, organizations that serve the homeless and communities struggling in these tough economic times, volunteers are demonstrating the strength and power of the American spirit.”
Organized by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, more than 300 partners and 400 projects were registered, including a beautification project at Holly Ridge Elementary School, the town document said.
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