1 r' A y; I I THURWS KIMG9 MOUMTNM MIRROR VOL. 89 NO. 20 KmOS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA 28086 THURSDAY. MARCH 9, 1978 15c H£Rf\LD j;*' -W- / fl- DISCUSS CHAROB STSTBM - MemiMn of the Kbige Mountain Reacue Squad and Its board of direc tor* met Hcrday nlg^t for dlscuMlon* on tranaport charge ayatem with Larry Revel* of the Cleveland County Emergency Service*. Left to right are Lawrence Stewart, aquad member, and Revela. Dr. Brank Slncox and Otia Falla, aquad directors. Charges Are Discussed The queatlon of whether patient* tranaportad long dlatancea ahould be charged for a two-way tr4> waa put to Larry Revel* of the Clevaland County Bmergeney S^vlce* Monday nlgM. "We charge tor tranaport — one way,” Revels answered. This question and others were discussed IkiHy when members of the Kings Mountain Rescue Squad and Its board of directors met at the local headquarters Monday. Capt. Raymond OaUowey Invited Revels and County Manager Joe Hendrick to meet with the squad because of the questions aquad members have asked. "I could have gone to meet with XiOriy and come back with the answers, but I think this Is better." Revels attended the meeting adone. Pursuing the question of whether to charge one-way or two-way fees tor long haul transports. Calloway told Revels that In one Incident the squad members "carried family members on the trip. We had to make two stops out of the way to pick up these people before driving to the destination to pick up the patient for transport back to Kings Mow tain." Revels suggested that before such "trips are made that on agreement be reached between the squad and the family membeis requesting the tranaport. "I have even talked to the county commissioners about this,” Revels conttnued, "but the chairman (Jack Palmer) said the charge Is to be made one way even If the ambulance has to go to New York to bring someone back.” Calloway said the local squad Is bearing the sKpenaes tor these trips and that “thers Is no way we can break even doing It this way. Our first obligation Is to our coverage area. We can’t Jeopardise the people here while we have our people and equipment on a long haul and then not even make expenses tor the trip." Scott Clontoigsr, a squad director, said Calloway's definition of first obligation Is correct and that the squad Is not legally obligated to make long distance trips. “However, I would not suggest that you stop that aarvloo because there Is a moral obligation to oonaldsr.” Revels said a transport from Newport News, Va. generated a charge of about M60 one way. "If we charged both ways It would cost the family about 1800 and no on* can afford that. Charges should be sufficient to oover expenses," he said. Shies July 1, 1977 the servloe by Kings Mountain and Shelby Rescue units has generated enough charges to leave an uncollected balance on the books of $20,000. Meanwhile the county continues to pay the salaries of three toUtlme BMTs In Kln^s Mountain, phis a supplement to the aquad each month tor expenses. ReveU explained. In answer to a question, that In the beginning the county commissioners said that bills would be submitted to the county emergency services, who In turn would serve as a collection agency tor the rescue squads. The money would then be sent to the units. ★★★ "The commissioners eJso said the county would not press people for the money,” Revels said. ‘That didn’t work. The next step was to make our garnishee piqiera asa sort of scare tactic. That didn’t work. Next week we have a mail who will knock on doors with garnishee papers In hand to collect the money due.” Revels said he didn’t like this, but there Is nothing he can do about It. "Nothing any of us can do about it. (Please Turn To Page 12) irkit Sincox Suggests Transport Service Dr. Frank Slncox, a director of the Kings Mountain Rescue Squad, suggested Monday night that a sepa rate organlHitlon to handle non emergency, non-medical traiuport trips be formed In Kings Mountain. Dr. Slncox’s comments came during a meeting of the board of directors, the rescue squad and County Emergency Services representative Larry Revels at the KM Rescue Squad headuquartera. “1 have to say this and I don’t know If It will moke anyone mad or not,” Dr. SliKox said, "but I don’t like all of this talk about charges and garnishment. I don’t like this at titude. Have we forgotten about the people?” He said he realised that the rescue squad could not go back to what It was before — a volunteer organisation existing from public donations. Donatlona have fallen off to practically nothing and the government has stepped In and setup certain laws to follow. "This Is not a service anymore,” he said. "It Is a business. I’m not knocking ths BMTs or updated ambulance equipment. I’m sure the state was wsll-meanlng when the laws were post, but their guideline* have created a situation wher* we con only offer the people one choice of service.” Then Dr. Slncox suggested that some thought should b* given to a second organisation to provide only transport ssrvlc*. "I’m talking about people who need transporta tion from hsr* to there to have a cast removed or tor a followup visit to a doctor or cHnlc,” he said. "And something like that should not require a $20,000 fully equipped ambulance and an BMT In at tendance. Just a driver and a vehicle suited to accommodate someone who has to He down If nscasaary tor Groverites Can Look For Higher Water Bill By ELIZABETH STEWABT Staff Writer CSIOVER — April water billing to Orover realdenta will reflect a slight Increase. TIm Tbwn Board Monday night unanimously accepted an alternate water rate proposal, upping the rates tor Inslde-clty customers to $4 tor the first 8,000 gallons, 80 cents per gallon for the next 8,000 gaUons, and 00 cents per for all over 8,000 gallons. For out-slde city customers, the rate will be the standard $S per tor the first 4,000, plus a 80 percent Increase. Airport Meeting Tuesday a ride. Under the present setiqi we cannot offer that choice. There are times when the full treatment Is not needed, so why ahould people have to pay the full price?” Dr. Slncox said he, as a doctor, did not send every patient to the In tensive care unit at the hospital. Just the patients who needed It. He was asked If he ditto’t send all of his patients a bill for his services and he answered, "Yes, but I don’t send the sheriff to their door with gamldiee piqiers In Ids hand.” Roy Hammett, one of three fulltime employes of the rescue squad, commented that the state law provides for any patient to be transported In a qualified am bulance with BMTs In attendance In the back of that ambulance. "I know that,” Dr. Slncox said, "but that’s because you represent yourselves a* a qualified reacue unit If there waa an organisation that represents Itself only as a transport service, then there would be no questions asked.” Squad member* expressed doubt that King* Mountain Rescue could operate both a rescue and transport service because the rescue service, at present Is not paying for Itself. Squad Secrstaiy Johnnl* Caldwell said, "I can speak for myself on this. After the time I’ve put In, the study and classes, 1 wouldn’t want to become a glorified taxi driver for such trips." "I can see your point and I wouldn’t suggest that qualUled BMT* become glorified taxi drivers,” Dr. Slncox sold, "but that’s exactly what you are when you tranaport people from hsr* to there who really do not need the full treatment. And I don’t think the stats had It In mind that these people be placed In the same free category os the real amergency eassa” A public meeting has been called tor Tues., Mar. 14 at 7:80 p. m. at city hall tor further discussions on the possibility of an airport tor Kings Mountain. A representative of the FAA will discuss and explore the possibilities with the Kings Mountain Airport Committee and the Interested public Is urged to attend. Mayor John Moss said, "The turnout and level of enthusiasm for this project at Tuesday’s meeting could have a great bearing on whether or not the city Is In Une tor establishing am aUrport.” A preUmlnauy plan has already been drawn and a possible site to locate the facility coaisldered and explained In a public meeting several months aigo. An adrport to serve locaU Industry, business auid private cltlsens. It warn eiqilalned, would be amother drawing cam! to new business and Industry searching tor new plant sites. Member* of the airport committee toclude Dr. Frank Slncox, Tommy Bridges, J. C. Bridges, James Childers, BUI Grissom and Corbet Nicholson. The board also upped restdentlaU % Inch tap-on fees from $1(» to $180, on motion by Tommy Keeter and seconded by Martha Byers, with Harold Herndon abstaUnlng. Charles DuVal, Treasurer of Mlnette Mills, and John Harry, President of Orover Industries, expressed opposition to the InltlaU proposal for water increases maule by Comm. Tommy Keeter and discussed at last month’s meeting. The first proposal waa that the new rates be $1 per 1,000 gallons for first 4,000 ; 80 cents per 1,(KX) for next 2,(MX>; and 60 cents for all over that aunount. CXirrent water rates for Inside customers au-e $1 per 1,000 gallons tor first 4,000 ; 60 cents per 1,000 gallons tor next 2,000 ; 80 cents per tor next 2,000; and 40 cents per for all over 10,000 gaUons. Mr. DuVal, who appeaired befma the board Monday night, protested that the new rate, as clrculailsed, reflected "dlacrimination” against the three Industries who aua the town’s major water users. They are Orover Industries, Mlnette Mills and Har-Ray MU’e.” These mills wUl beau* the brunt ci the i>ro jxiseu rate Increase,” said DuVal, with no rate Increase to those 129 customers paying the minimum." DuVal sadd Industry represented 80 percent of Grover’s water customer*. Comm. Keeter said that It was the boautl’s Intent to come up with a realistic figure since the water rates haul been unchatnged since 1968 and the water deficit to the town for Dec. 1977 was $800 auid tor Jamuory 1978 was $800, the ultimate aim for the utility fund to become self-sufficient. Mayor BiU McCarter, who presided, pointed out thad the boau-d had surveyed the number of cltlsens on fixed Incomes, such as retired peivle auid widows. In presenting the proposaOs. DuVad reiterated that 70 percent of property tax revenue In Grover la paid by Grover’s three large In dustries Into the general fund, suggesting an "across the boards” Increase. Brown Appointed Haael J. Brown, Project Manager of the Csnsler Street Urtian Renewal Project Area of the Kings Mountain Redevelopment Commission, has been appointed appointed by Governor Jim Hunt to the Advisory Cbuncll to the Cleveland County Unit of the N. C. Depitftment of Cbrrectlona. IBs term will expire Dec. 81,1979. Governor Hunt sadd oim of the goads of this administration Is to improve the correction system In North Carolina and In order to aw- compUsh this goad he Is establishing aui advisory council to eaush of the prison units In the state to serve as a link between the fatcilRy amd com munity. "With the commitment of com munity leader* such as Haael Brown I know w* cam reaudi our goad," sadd the Governor. Brown’s commission of ap pointment was signed by the Governor with the state seal affixed this week. A native of Kings Mountain, Brown Is the son of Hasel Ingram Brown and Mrs. Ina Virginia Chuser. He Is maurled to the former Maugarst Virginia Perklnaon and they ar* parents of a 10-year-old daughter, Tanya Marie, and Uv* In Gain** Community. He Is active In the Galilee United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge No. 4, American Legion Post 188 and Air Force’ Sergeant’s Association. He retired after 26 year* service with theUSAF and Joined the staff of the KMRC several yearns ego. % tm ,'r*T HAZEL J. BROWN Mayor McCarter read a letter from John Harry, President of Grover Industries, the town’s major water customer, expressing dis satisfaction thad "lau-ger water users were bearing the brunt of Increased costs” amd noting surprise that "no more comment Is coming from household users who use more than the minimum.” Ooanm. Keeter pointed out during the discussion thad residents of Sprtn? Acres ame "above average” water users In town amd that citizens use over one million gallons of water monthly with 186 of the 286 cus tomers billed for the minimum uaaige of iq) to 4,(KX) gallons. Under the new rate, effective In April, the minimum billing will be $1 per 1,000 tor the first 8,000 gaUons. Mayor McCOrter said the new rate would meam that a customer billed tor 10,000 gaUons of water would pay about $1.80 moaithly. Oomm. Keeter eiqiladned that the iresenttap-an fee Is $100 and the last tap-on cost the town about $200. He suggested a $80 Increase for cus tomers on the same side of the street as the town’s water main and ' recommended chat costs be negotiated tor largw residentlad lines. He recommended that de posits remadn the same, $10 for inslde-clty customers and $18 for outetde-clty customers. "We’re not trying to make amy moaiey on the water system,” he pointed out, "the general fund h*M been cadled upon so mamy times lately tor money to extend lines amd this Increase wlU mean a mc'e equitable way but won’t pay for aUl the costa.” In other actlona, the board: Voted to reimburse Grover PTre Department $229 for a monitor, two inspection stickers, and N. C. Fire men dues, on requesc of Fire Chief Joe Boheler who reported that “everything la In order tor creation of a Gkaver fire tax district” with preUmlnary drawings to be brought before the county commlsalon In the neam future. To a cpiestton, Boheler sadd creation at the Grover district would not infringe on neighborhood Are departments. No. $ Fire Depart ment has such a district but Bethle hem VFD does not, said Boheler. Heard rsporta from Recreation Director PhUlp Harry about plam* tor summer program of bamriiaU, Including Little League, Babe Ruth and Dixie Youth pau^clpatlcn. The boautl tebled request* by Harry to leame tor $1 a field, owned by Mlnette Mills, tor a playing flsld until detwmlnattloai could be made about Insurance of players and spectators. The board would also be responsible tor lighting the field for night games, said Haurry. Mr. Harry told the board that a concessions stand to be operated at hcxnegaunes would help finance the summer program. He also asked the boaud to Investigate the possibility at obtaining land for deyelopmsnt at a pamk and swimming po