Bauer talks ambulance
The ambulance situation in Allen County is voters’ biggest concern, said Don Bauer, Republican candidate for county commission District 3.
He is opposed by Jim Talkington for the seat being vacated by first-term incumbent Gary McIntosh.
“That’s what I hear most about,” said Bauer.
“I think it ought to be kept in the city (Iola) on a cooperative basis,” Bauer said. “I think we could have one ambulance in Iola, one for the rest of the county and one held reserve. That way we could cut down the number (of county ambulances) by one and save money.”
His plan also would eliminate ambulances now operated by the city.
“I’d like to see ambulances operated out of the (Iola) fire station,” he added. “I always thought the Iola firefighters did a good job. That’s the way it was done for years and it worked well.”
Bauer noted his wife Donna worked at Allen County Hospital for 40 years and “I never heard any complaints about ambulances.”
During his campaign, he has heard concerns about “people having to wait on ambulances,” which he thinks may result from dispatchers having to decide which service to call.
“It would be better just to dispatch one ambulance and have it go load up the patient,” he said.
Bauer had no specific thoughts on the county budget, other than “I know we have to spend enough to keep moving forward,” although, “I think we could cut down in some areas.”
District 3 contains the north, west and south sides of Iola — wards 1, 2 and 3 — and South Iola Township.
Talkington eyes services
Jim Talkington agrees that ambulance service is foremost in voters’ minds. Talkington is running against Don Bauer for county commission.
“People are wondering if it will go back to one service and if it does, where it will be located — at the Iola Fire Department, the new hospital or somewhere in the county,” Talkington said.
Voters are excited about a new Allen County Hospital, Talkington said, “and the business opportunities it may bring to the area.”
