Infrastructure, Infrastructure, Infrastructure |
| June 9, 2012 |
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If a community is to thrive and remain viable,
there are some infrastructure needs that must be
met. Those requirements are good schools, good
high speed internet and wireless phone coverage;
and good, fast medical services. Since we can’t sustain ourselves from local sources, we must by necessity be connected and dependent on some outside help beyond our region for goods and services. So I add some form of public transportation to connect us to the outer world. Without these elements in a community, the community will not be able to attract business to move in that will provide living wage jobs that we do desperately need. Without good infrastructure it is very difficult to get the kind of businesses needed for our youth to find jobs and stay in the community. I heard over 300 families have moved to areas where there are good paying jobs. I am not sure how to verify that number, but I do know several young people who have left. I am happy that these folks have found work that will feed, clothe and shelter their families, but it saddens me to know that we are becoming a community of older folks and that our youth have had to leave the area to find a way to sustain their own dreams. We have failed our youth and in doing so may be sealing our own demise as a viable community. We have so much potential, but without action and leadership to bring about the needs to sustain a viable community, we will die. Look at the number of businesses that have closed this year. Many are long-time businesses that have been main stays of our community. Without growth, more will close their doors. This brings me to the real reason for this note: medical care, which often starts with an ambulance ride. Having well trained EMTs, paramedics and adequate equipment to meet the needs of this community is one of the legs of viability. Does the law requiring the county to provide ambulance service address what level of served is adequate or recommended for a population of approximately 11,000, according to the 2010 census? On a recent evening, we had a situation where one ambulance and driver would not have been able to handle the two emergencies occurring during the same time frame: (1) Someone ran into the rail north bound approaching the Kootenai River Bridge on 95. One EMT was pumping the victim’s chest while others were preparing him for the ride in the ambulance. (2) On Highway 2 during the same time frame, there was a rollover accident requiring emergency services. The proposed one ambulance and driver coming from Bonner County could not have handled these two emergencies. In a case such as this, who makes the decision who lives and who potentially dies? Is this setting our county up for some nasty litigation downstream? Are we going back in time? I spoke with the head of the ambulance team and asked how often this kind of situation occurs. His response was weekly, and that is a conservative estimate. Sending tax dollars paid in Boundary County to Bonner County for services that should be provided by our county does not seem like a good plan or solution to this problem. This issue has been with us for some time. Certainly long enough that we have all heard this before, but when are our elected officials going to start taking action, leading this community to come together to make the tough decision needed to sustain our community and do the jobs that they were elected to do? These are not easy decisions, but must be addressed in a way that benefits all of our citizens. |
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Concerned citizen Bonners Ferry |