Medicine Bow: 'NO' on SCWEMS

At a special meeting Monday night, the town of Medicine Bow decided not to adopt the proposed first amendment to the South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Service (SCWEMS) which would allow the town of Hanna as a new member of that Joint Powers Board (JPB).

Medicine Bow Deputy Town Clerk/Treasurer Alice Clark reported to the Saratoga Sun that some of the Medicine Bow town council members were not satisfied with the amendment, as written, which does not include language about demographic requirements for board members as previously requested by Medicine Bow.

Clark said that some of the town council members talked about the fact that Hanna may have a few residents representing various seats on the SCWEMS board, potentially giving that town more influence over the service. Medicine Bow is also concerned with the fact that a JPB member cannot be removed unless they fail to perform a specific set of criteria.

Based on Clark’s description of the meeting, Medicine Bow is holding fast to its desired terms of a board member having to reside within 10 miles of the municipality they represent and revoking voting privileges for any SCWEMS entity that is arears of its financial obligation to the service. According to Clark, the council discussed conceding on a third proposed change to the amendment and allow the JPB to submit grant applications without the unanimous approval of entities.

A Dec. 4 letter from Chief Deputy Carbon County and Prosecuting Attorney Ashley Mayfield Davis to Medicine Bow’s attorney stated that all of the other SCWEMS entities have signed the amendment as written and that certain town councils feel very strongly that Medicine Bow should sign it as written in order to let the ambulance service move forward.