A special meeting scheduled tonight to form a paid ambulance authority in Harrison, Tarentum and Brackenridge is postponed.
Eureka Fire-Rescue personnel posted to Facebook, apologizing for the short notice.
The delay was caused by a scheduling error, Tarentum Manager Dwight Boddorf said.
The meeting was to be held at Highlands High School auditorium. The district notified Boddorf that they are preparing the stage and auditorium for the upcoming school musical, he said, and are unable to accommodate the meeting.
“We fully understand and respect the amount of time, effort, and coordination that goes into a production of this size,” Boddorf said of the school’s musical.
“The students, staff, and volunteers put an incredible amount of work into showcasing their talents, and we don’t want to disrupt their progress.”
A new meeting date will be announced shortly, once an alternate time or venue is secured.
Residents can continue to learn about the EMS authority through the new website, allekiskiemergency.org.
Boddorf said the additional time until the scheduled vote will give the public further opportunity to be heard and to engage in the process.
“The EMS steering committee extends sincere appreciation to Highlands High School for its continued partnership and for allowing the use of its facilities throughout this entire process,” Boddorf said.
“Their support has been invaluable as we work through this complex regional effort.”
As proposed, the Alle-Kiski Emergency Service Authority would merge Eureka Community Ambulance in Tarentum and Citizens Hose EMS in Harrison.
Residents of each member community would share costs, initially estimated at about $85 a year, or $7 a month. The costs have not been finalized.
Operational details, including billing, collections and the handling of existing payments or contributions, would be determined by the authority once it is established.
“Those items are intentionally not locked in at this stage, as they require policy decisions by the authority’s governing board,” he said.
If approved, operations could begin in the fall.
A multi-municipal approach through a paid service enables new hires and faster response times, according to consultants on the project. It also allows Eureka and Citizens to focus on the job at hand rather than fundraising.
The authority will be funded by a combination of insurance reimbursements and an annual fee paid by property owners — expected to be about $85 per property, though not yet finalized.