By Milo Dailey
Butte County Post
BELLE FOURCHE, S.D. — When County Commissioner Steve Smeenk opened the floor to questions on the June 5 election to form a county-wide ambulance district he found a bundle of them from a small crowd at Thursday’s Butte County Ambulance board meeting.
Smeenk, who represents Butte County on the board, said the details of how the ambulance taxing district would work will be handled by a new elected board after the district is approved by voters.
He said, “We try to get people as much information as we can,” but that the current board representing the county, Newell and Belle Fourche, can’t make decisions for the new district and a newly elected board. The issue of forming a new taxing district came as the Belle Fourche-based ambulance lacked sufficient volunteers to meet call volume last fall. The current board hired a full time crew to staff the service. Newell’s volunteer staff currently does meet call volume in the eastern part of the county.
Full Story: Ambulance district need, details questioned