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County expresses support for EMS Certificate of Need

Chautauqua County officials are expressing their opinion that the county’s Emergency Medical Service be given a permanent ambulance Certificate Of Need.

During the county Legislature meeting, lawmakers unanimously approved a motion supporting the Chautauqua County EMS Certificate Of Need.

Motions do not carry legal authority, but are designed to show a position of a governing body.

The county EMS is currently appealing the decision of the Southwestern Regional Emergency Medical Services Council to deny the application of a conversion from a municipal CON to a permanent ambulance CON.

“The Chautauqua County Legislature acknowledges that a permanent ambulance CON is of the highest priority to ensure the safety, health and well-being of both Chautauqua residents and visitors,” the motion states. “The Chautauqua County Legislature reaffirms its commitment to establishing and continuing to operate an ambulance agency.”

The county EMS uses its Certificate Of Need for billing purposes, for the county as well as other fire and ambulance services.

In other business:

¯ The legislature passed a motion to support February as Black History Month.

¯ The legislature acknowledged legislators who passed away in 2022. Those individuals were Arden Johnson, John “Jack” Glenzer, Robert Lee Penharlow and John Y. Carlson.

¯ Robert Yates of Ashville and Andrea McLean of Ashville were appointed to the South and Center Chautauqua Lake Sewer Districts Board.

¯ Legislator John Hemmer, R-Westfield, was appointed to the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board.

¯ Zachary Dean of Fredonia was appointed to the Chautauqua County Planning Board.

¯ Legislator Susan Parker, D-Fredonia, was reappointed to the Chautauqua County Food Policy Council.

¯ Legislator Robert Scudder was appointed to the Chautauqua County Land Bank. Reappointed to the Land Bank were the following: Hemmer, Diane Hannum of Dunkirk, Bonnie Strickland of Westfield, Nicole May of Fredonia, Hugh Butler of Chautauqua, Taylor Scott of Lakewood, Rebecca Meeder of Ripley, Charles Cornell of Bemus Point, Louis Drago Jr. of Lakewood, and Mark Geise of Fredonia.

¯ Legislator Pierre Chagnon, R-Bemus Point, was appointed to the Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Directors. Reappointed to the board were: Fred Croscut of Sherman, Legislator Lisa Vanstrom, R-West Ellicott, Allen Peterson of Jamestown, and Bruce Kidder of Jamestown.

¯ The legislature approved the Sheriff’s Department to spend up to $400,000 to replace its 1978 International armored vehicle, which is used by the SWAT team. The money is coming from the American Rescue Plan Act, which originated from the federal government.

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