THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY
Volume V. No.* USPS 421-080 Hertford, Perquimans County, N.C., Thursday, February It IW1 20 CENTS
Low membership strains
county rescue squad
Perquimans County could neither
function nor survive without the service
of volunteers.
v Town and county volunteer fire
departments provide us with fire
protection, and the Perquimans County
Rescue Squad is our only means of
emergency ambulance transportation.
The trouble is, though, that we have
about volunteered some of these services
to death. According to representatives of
the county resuce squad, that service is
presently feeling the strain of a rapidly
dwindling membership, limited county
} representation, as well as service abuses
involving patients whose need for
emergency transportation is
questionable.
Membership down drastically
Chartered in September of 1967, the
rescue squad initially boasted a full
membership of some 75 certified
Emergency Medical Technicians. But
mid-winter of 1981 has seen that mem
i bership drop to about 42 active EMTs,
with an additional S members who serve
in a back-up capacity.
"I guess some of the charisma of being
a (rescue squad) member is wearing
off," said squad captain Ralph Barr. "At
first everyone wanted to be on the squad
and wear their jackets around town, and
that lasted with some until they started
pulling duty in the wee hours of the
morning," he said, adding, "It all comes
down to dedication."
Squad treasurer John Beers attributed
the shrinking membership to age. Many
of the original members have retired, he
said.
The fact that most active members are
nearing retirement age could worsen the
squad's low-membership problem, ac
cording to Beers, who scanned the rescue
squad roster and noted that most of
Perquimans County's EMTs were in
e their 50s, several were in their 60s, with
very few classified as "young adults."
Whatever the reason for the deflated
membership, the result is a strain on
those who are often faced with pulling
more than their regular duty each week.
"It's causing a problem because it's
over-taxing those that are members of
the squad," said Beers. He said that
usually, duty consists of either one day (6
a.m. to 8 p.m.) a week, or one night (6
I p.m. to 6 a.m.) about every three weeks.
' But in light -of the EMT shortage, he
said that day-squad members have been
pulling as many as three days a week
duty.
"You can look can look and see the
effect on the people who are called and
called," said Barr, adding that the
burden of pulling extra duty falls not only
on rescue squad members, but on their
families as weU. "It's a burden on a
family when one family-member is often
not at home," he said.
limited representation
Another problem facing the county
rescue squad stems from the fact that
approximately 32 of its 42 members live
either in the town of Hertford, or within a
two-mile radius.
"We want to stress that we have no
representation in parts of the county and
that we represent the whole county,"
said Beers.
Barr added that since the unit
represents the county, he felt there
should be more that 10 members from
outside of Hertford on the squad.
Service is abated
Add the deflated membership to the
fact that many calls received by the
rescue squad are not necessarily
"emergency" in nature, and that could
spell trouble.
Barr recalled an incident in which he
was called to transport a girl to the
hospital who was suffering from nothing
more than the flu. While en route,
another call was received at the squad
hut, and the night crew was called into
duty.
"The service is being abused now,"
said Beers, "it really makes you mad
when you drive up and see about three
cars in the yard. These people could often
go in their own private vehicles ? and
it's causing a shortage for those that
really do need the emergency service."
Beers added that sometimes patients
request a ride to Norfolk when they could
receive the same care at either Chowan
or Albemarle Hospital.
"The law says that once you pass the
first hospital, then it ceases to be an
emergency if the hospital can provide the
care," said Beers.
Although the resuce squad does not,
and cannot by law, require payment for
services rendered, Beers said that the
squad did encourage donations. "If we're
a deed to drive to Norfolk, we would like
at least a $75 donation," said Beers,
adding that they encouraged donations of
about $150 for runs to the Chapel-Hill
Durham area.
"But we will never refuse anyone
transportation ? if they can't afford a
donation, then a 'thank-you' is enough,"
said Beers.
Qualification as an EMT requires the
completion of a 109-hour course and
passing a state exam. Barr said that
those who have completed the EMT class
but who have not passed the exam are
qualified as ambulance drivers.
Marjorie Nixon, who is a training of
ficer with the Perquimans County
Rescue Squad, and Albemarle Regional
Planning and Development Com
mission's CPR coordinator for the 10
county region, said that although there is
presently an EMT class in session in the
county, another one could be initiated if
enough interest is generated.
She said that so far, there had only
been enough interest expressed to hold
one EMT class fn the county a year.
Of the some 7 or 8 people presently
enrolled in the EMT class, Mrs. Nixon
estimated that only about half would join
forces with the county rescue squad.
Requirements for qualification as an
ambulance driver are not as stringent,
according to Mrs. Nixon, who said that
completion of a 40-hour course meant
certification.
Although a driver course is not
presently offered in the county, Mrs.
Nixon said "If we can get enough people
together for a driver's course, I can get
one started."
She said that the course consisted
mainly of basic first-aid and CPR.
Warm bodies needed
The rescue squad could do with some
warm bodies, and not necessarily the
sick kind, according to Barr. Although he
conceded that material rewards gained
from volunteering time on the rescue
squad were limited or nil, he said that
self-satisfaction was the motivating
factor for many.
"A guy doesn't get anything but a pat
on the back, a thank-you and an oc
cassional free meal, but there's a lot of
satisfaction involved," said Barr.
"It gives you a good feeling to know
you've helped to save somebody's life,"
he added.
"The rescue squad is my second love ?
I guess I'd better say that my wife is my
first," joked Barr.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Those interested in
taking either an EMT or ambulance
driver class should contact Margie Nixon
at ARPDC in Hertford, phone 426-5753.
Damaged, but..
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rn?iMiprtcr
Getting started
Comity officials, represouUtrrcs of
Riren and Associates, the comity
engineering firm, and FmHA officab
met Friday morning in the
stages of a 8,273,000 expansion of the
county water system. Pictured are: (left
to right) Ron Sessoms of Rivers and
Associates, county finance officer D.F.
Reed, Jr., county commission chairman
Joe Novell, and Fin HA officer Joyce
Rhodes.
Wanted? water sign-ups
The preliminary stages of efforts to
expand Perquimans County's water
system got underway last week, after an
announcement by first district
congressman Walter B. Jones that a
funding package had been approved.
That package includes a $230,125 state
clean water bond grant, a Farmers
Home Administration grant of (3(0,000.
an FmHA loan of $4*0,000, and a county
m atch of $4,575, for a total of $1,275,000.
County officials met on Friday mor
ning with FmHA officials and
representatives of Rivers and
Associates, the county engineering firm,
in a session that was expected to have
ended in the signing of a letter of con
ditions by county commission chairman
Joe Nowell.
County attorney John Matthews,
however, expressed the opinion that the
letter couldnt be signed without the
presence of the entire board, and the
signing was postponed.
From there, the session became
largely informational, centering on the
steps required in getting the project
underway.
Ron Sessoms, a Rivers and Associates
engineer, established July 1 as the target
date for having project specifications
ready to be put out for bidding.
If bidding proceeds in ideal fashion,
construction on three wells, an additional
treatment plant, and water lines could
begin as early as this fall, said Wayne
Floyd, another Rivers representative.
A release from Congressman Jones'
office states that the expansion should
allow the system to add 246 additional
families. Floyd, however, said that
figure was too high.
He said that Phase II was designed
partly to serve those county residents
who had signed up to be included in the
project originally, but had to be excluded
because of the cost feasibility of servng
them.
At present, some 90 persons have
signed up for county water and have not
received it. Floyd said the expansion has
the potential of serving some 120
households.
He urged those persons who have not
signed up and want county water to do so.
A (10 fee is required for signing up in
advance, but after a yet-to-be
established cut-off date, when plans for
the expansion have been finalized, there
will be a $225 charge for hooking on to the
water lines.
Those persons who live on a state road
not presently being served by county
water have a good chance of being in
cluded in the expansion if they sign up in
advance, Floyd said. "Just about
everybody living on a state road who has
signed up at present will be picked up,"
said Floyd.
There are, however, roads with houses
that could potentially be served on which
no one has signed up.
Service will be prioritized according to
the number of signups and potential
customers on a given road, said Floyd.
Besides offering county water to more
customers, the expansion is expected to
improve pressure in some of the higher
parts of the county, and improve the
quality of the water, Floyd said.
The water department has been
plagued with reports of iron laden water
and Floyd attributed that problem to a
water plant working beyond its capacity.
Nowell was enthusiastic over the
progress the system is making towards
serving more county residents in an area
where water is either treated or of poor
quality.
"It might also be an enticement (to
lure) industry in here," said Nowell.
VFD needs full-timer
The town of Hertford needs to consider
hiring a full-time fireman to coordinate
services that are becoming increasingly
more demanding on volunteers, ac
cording to Hertford Volunteer Fire Chief
Charlie Skinner, who appeared before
the town council last week to present the
department's annual report
"When you look into next year's
budget, I would like for the council to
give some consideration to hiring a full
time fireman to serve in a multi-service
capacity," said Skinner.
A full-time fireman could manage the
station, and make the necessary fire
prevention inspections that volunteers
often do not have time for, he said.
Among other considerations the town
needs to look into, according to Skinner,
is the need to update fire prevention
ordinances.
Describing present ordinant e< as
"ancient history," be toM the council
that many existing codes date back to the
INfe
"And there are many buildings in this
town that don't meet current fire safety
rrt J-f ?* L. ,,^11
vWlv5( MK?
Skinner also suggested that all Mare
requests far burning permits within the
town of Hertford be i hiriwli il through
the town office, citing instances hi which
rtridenti have called him at wort about
the matter.
"Volunteers shouldn't be obligated to
issue these permits because we do not
have the time." said Skinner.
The fire department has found several
areas in town to contain structures that
are hazardous, according to Skinner,
who cited the 300 block of Market Street
from the Madre bouse west to the Little
SAR.
"This is a dangerous area ? several of
these structures are fire hazards," said
Skinner, adding that there were also
businesses within the town of Hertford
that were dangerous because of the
amount of trash and debris surrounding
the premises.
He suggested that the council take
action to condemn the dangerous
structures, and pass an ordinance
requiring that businesses keep flam
mable items and trash to a minimum .
Skinner told the council that although
volunteer maintenance on vehicles and
equipment had kept operating costs low,
the department was in need of some new
items, namely two new air packs at a
cost of some t>S0 each, as well as a
"crew-type" transport vehicle (which he
estimated at some $12,000) "to cut down
on so much individual driving."
Skinner estimated the cost of outfitting
a votwnteer fireman at some P00.
The town council allotted the fire
department an annual budget of $16,350
for fiscal year 1980-81. Skinner said that
the fire department had spent $3,000 of
the amount to date.
"I think that it takes the least amount
of money to maintain the fire station thafi
any other department in town," sai(l
Skinner.
Reporting on the fire department's
activities during the year. Skinner
enumerated several surveys taken by the
volunteers.
He said that the fire department had
established "pre-planned fire in:
formation on any given building in
town,"- and had also taken a street-by
street survey of dwellings containing
handicapped residents.
The Hertford Volunteer Fire Depart
ment answered a total of 61 calls during
1900 ? 36 in Hertford, 24 in Perquimans
County, and 1 in Elizabeth City.
There are presently 24 members of the
fire department, with one application
pending.
Skinner said that the department's
goals for 1M1 were "to make it (the
department) the best it could possible
be," and "to train each man to his utmost
for his own personal protection as well as
his fellow firemen."
iustrial development commission re-established
The Perquimans County Industrial
Comai ittton ku km mttuM after
f a two year lull ia activity and the group
) has already beld its flrat meeting
M MkmltAM ?ruirLtni?<l .4 l.?i !
iw^w uicinim wcTv iWOuiini ii iin
Monday's county commissioners'
noting ami i wmik* was acheduled for
the following Monday, Feb. ?.
"The purpose of this meeting it to
reorganise aad revitalise the industrial
dtvtlopBUfrt commission M Mid county
commission chairman Joe Nowei] to
opening the meeltog. "Bight wuay
people fool ^ need or ttos coaiiwinn
to fat active again aad try aid eatice
aoat industry to caaaa aad talc* a good
look it vs." iiid NovdL
Novell atraaaed the aaad toaaO aad the
aaad tor adectMty to Ua remarks
Tka first Naai of haatoaaa tor toe aew
coaaaaiaatoa waa the atoctfn^of officers.
"Wt ? ? iwlitj j>m utte tt?
aai it wflHag to >*M Novel of tkt
ik+nmm "i *?t tkwt MTbottys
gotag to nm if ?? 4nt go lookfcg tor
Uww."kettM.
rfce-chair wewt to com missiooer Charles
H. Wart, WayM Ashley of Baak of North
Ciwto was appointed treasurer aid
Mrtlwi Mjnr Hi Oh was named
la dtoewsaka a> the ftoaaeM available
to the iibbIHii. Cm said that the
county has tome $8,000 in savings.
The county has the authority to levy i
five cents per $109 valuation tax for in
dustrial development but Novell sail
that only a half a cent had been levied in
recent years.
(Continued pipage 2) ^