Study carefully, and carry a big idea

The recent suggestion that the area consider forming an emergency medical services district is a good one and could lead to a better service for everyone in the area when help is needed.

Local leaders should consider it carefully, openly, and with open minds.

They should also be mindful that at its core, the idea may be another attempt at an end run around a fundamental problem this community has always had but never faced constructively: lack of unity, even artificially induced disunity.

An EMS district could be a great solution if local fire departments are on board, agreeing that better funding of our ambulances could better assure the continuation of a vital service we all take for granted but shouldn’t, one currently only provided by the Grand Coulee Volunteer Fire Department.

But a separate district was formed years ago to pay for a new swimming pool, a park district that taxpayers have yet to agree to fund. It’s getting by, not accomplishing the goal it was formed to meet, but rescuing North Dam Park on an ongoing basis because the city of Grand Coulee decided not to fund that community-wide resource all by itself.

Another community-wide need that we all take for granted is the management of a local cemetery. The Lions Club floated the idea of the four towns taking it over, but the legalities may be pointing to a cemetery district as more possible.

And let’s not forget the Regional Board of Mayors that governs the management of the local waste management facility, the Delano Regional Transfer Station, an arrangement that at times makes the U.S. Congress look like a simpler, swifter operation.

No doubt, in this community, we often have to come up with ways around our outdated artificial boundaries. It would be nice to just eliminate those as a more perfect solution for most of them.

But let us not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. An EMS district may, in fact, be a good solution, just not as big of an idea.

Scott Hunter

editor and publisher