By Cliff Miller, correspondent for The Capital Times
The Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin)
Copyright 2006 Madison Newspapers, Inc.
DEERFIELD, Wis.- The town and village of Cottage Grove have invited the town of Deerfield to join them in forming a new joint emergency medical service on Jan. 1.
That has village of Deerfield officials wondering where that leaves their community in providing EMS services for its residents.
A joint Deerfield village-town meeting ended Tuesday night with village officials asking to be invited next Monday when Cottage Grove town and village and Deerfield town officials discuss a possible new arrangement.
But they also approved what Deerfield Village President Arnold Evensen called a “two-tiered approach,” acting to immediately hire former Deer-Grove EMS Chief Terry Thompson as a “transition coordinator” to prepare for the move to separate EMS services on Jan. 1.
The meeting’s intricate and sometimes rancorous debate stemmed from last December’s notice from Cottage Grove officials. They said population growth in their communities has greatly outpaced growth in Deerfield, tipping the balance of emergency calls toward Cottage Grove and justifying a separate EMS department.
Recently, they invited the town of Deerfield to join them, in effect leaving the village of Deerfield on its own.
Kevin Nelson, a village member of the Deerfield Fire Commission, cried foul. For Cottage Grove officials first to serve notice that they wanted to split from the town and village of Deerfield and later to attempt to “steal” the town of Deerfield “is not ethical,” he protested.
Deerfield Town Supervisor Mike Schlobohm said town officials are tempted to accept the invitation when they meet Monday night with Cottage Grove.
Deerfield Village Supervisor Paul Haag proposed the response, asking Schlobohm to seek a village invitation to join the Monday night talks while also immediately hiring Thompson as temporary “transition coordinator.”
Deerfield volunteer Fire Chief Paul Lenz and Assistant Chief Larry Hewitt said they were prepared to lead the way to establishing a separate EMS system by Jan. 1 if given the necessary authority.
But they threw cold water on Evensen’s hopes that separate Deerfield emergency services could start running by Oct. 1. Speakers noted that nearly half the year has passed with nothing done since notice of the split was served by Cottage Grove.
One step that has been taken that would be necessary even if the communities patch up their differences is preparing to expand the fire station to provide sleeping and work space for EMS workers.
Deer-Grove EMS Chief Jess Robinson and others said Deerfield needs better facilities and other inducements to attract volunteers to staff an ambulance around the clock.
Some speakers blamed Robinson for difficulties in attracting recruits. Tension was evident between him and some officials in the room as they spoke with guarded politeness.
Robinson defended himself against accusations that prospective volunteers won’t work for him for personal reasons. He said for each who objects to his management style others are willing to work for him.
Meanwhile, spokesmen for Brink, Kolberg & Associates architects said plans for adding EMS space to the fire station will be finished in time to take bids and award contracts late in July, with construction to be finished before Jan. 1.