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MINUTES <br />City Council <br />Jan. 14, 1987 <br />Samoszuk <br />Ambulence <br />Charges <br />Agenda <br />Item No. 1Q <br />Mr. Michael Samoszuk, 2901 Payne A <br />with a complaint about the cost of <br />Canada. Samoszuk reported that he <br />service in Little Canada, while in <br />$80. Mr. Samoszuk has submitted a <br />his concerns. <br />~enue, appeared before the Council <br />ambulence service in Little <br />was charged $420 for ambulence <br />Maplewood such service costs <br />letter to the City outlining <br />Mrs. Scalze pointed out that the City of Maplewood provides ambulence <br />service to its residents, and the majority of the cost for this <br />service is paid for through general taxation. However, in Little <br />Canada the City contracts with an independent firm in order to <br />make this service available in the City. <br />Mr. Samoszuk questioned why the City contracts with a firm located <br />in Fridley and not with the City of Maplewood or the City of St. <br />Paul. <br />Scalze stated that it was her understanding that Maplewood does not <br />provide this service to other cities. <br />Fahey pointed out that the City of Little Canada does not have <br />paramedics or transport vehicles. Maplewood is paying for its <br />vehicles and equipments through taxation. <br />Mr. LaValle outlined ambulence service provided by other cities <br />and pointed out that in some cities equipment and vehicles have <br />been donated by various groups. LaValle stated that he was sympathic <br />to Mr. Samoszuk's feelings for the amount of money he was charged <br />for the service, but pointed out that a dollar amount cannot be <br />placed on a human life. <br />Mr. Samoszuk reported that he had exhausted his insurance benefits, <br />and pointed out that the charges were not only a burden on him but <br />most likely other elderly people in the City. <br />Scalze pointed out that the City made the determination several <br />years ago to contract for ambulence service. <br />Scalze stated that she would be interested to know what an ambulence <br />call actually costs in the City of Maplewood. <br />Scalze also pointed out that different cities have different ways <br />of paying for city services, for example a water tower, and Scalze <br />felt that in the end the cost of the various services balanced out. <br />Samoszuk again questioned why the City did not contract with <br />Maplewood for ambulence service. <br />F~~~ey pointed out that Maplewood's paramedic staff consists of <br />volunteers from their Fire Department, and the service is not <br />available to Little Canada. <br />Page -5- <br />