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Published: Monday, Oct. 22, 2012 / Updated: Monday, Oct. 22, 2012 10:48 AM

York County Council sets Nov. 12 EMS workshop

LAKE WYLIE -- 

County volunteer emergency units should soon have a better idea what their futures hold.

York County Council last week scheduled a Nov. 12 workshop to iron out unresolved emergency dispatch issues. Since February, county volunteer EMS units, including River Hills/Lake Wylie EMS, have been petitioning the county not to implement proposed changes the squads say unfairly steers service toward Piedmont Medical Center.

County manager Jim Baker told the council he believes all but one major issue have some resolution already.

“If we’re down to one, we’re making progress,” said council member Chad Williams.

Piedmont and other county EMS providers will receive copies of the potential agreement before the workshop.

Dick Mann, president of River Hills/Lake Wylie EMS, said he isn’t sure his group and the county are closer any closer to resolutions. He says requirements for two certified paramedics, 24-hour ambulances and a Piedmont physician overseeing their operations could close their operation.

“We’re going to have to see what happens,” Mann said. “It’s a shame that it’s had to come to this.”

Mann remains hopeful about the resolution in the information he should soon receive.

Volunteer units, like River Hills/Lake Wylie, say the current rules of operation comply with all state standards and additional requirements from the county would hurt or even stop them, but not affect Piedmont.

“I do believe that these concerns have been heard,” Fort Mill-Tega Cay Rescue Squad director Tim McMichael said in August. “To the extent that we’ll see any changes remains to be seen.”

Several council members spoke in August about not wanting to see volunteer units impacted, something the units hope will prevail moving forward.

“If that volunteer force goes away,” council member Bruce Henderson said at his group’s August meeting, “we’re going to be hung out to dry in a lot of parts of the county.”