HEIDELBERG — Providing 24-hour ambulance services for all of Jasper County is not just a want, it’s a need, according to those gathered at the Heidelberg Town Hall this week.

The approximate 100 residents of the Eastern portion of Jasper County said something needs to be done to ensure ambulance service is available when needed.

Some Jasper County residents are concerned that the Jasper County Board of Supervisors is considering eliminating full-time ambulance service in the east part of the county.

According to officials, EmServ provides ambulance service to the county with one ambulance stationed in Bay Springs, being in the west portion of the county, and one ambulance in Heidelberg, being in the east portion of the county.

EmServ is a division of South Central Regional Medical Center and is a medical transport service company providing a full range of medical transportation services.

Juan Barnett, mayor of the Town of Heidelberg, said he is concerned that the Jasper County Board of Supervisors is considering altering the ambulance services in the east part of the county.

Officials with EmServ attended Thursday’s meeting along with numerous citizens from Heidelberg, Rose Hill, Paulding and other portions of the county.

“We are not fussing with the ambulance service or with the hospital,” Barnett said. “We just want full-time ambulance service.”

Those attending the group’s third meeting agreed.

Residents said they have invited the supervisors to attend their meetings. However, none of them have attended.

Because of the supervisors’ lack of concern, the group has gathered more than 450 signatures on petitions “requesting that the Board of Supervisors provide 24-hour ambulance service for East and West Jasper County.”

The group agreed this week to send the Board of Supervisors the signed petitions and to request that the matter be put on their next board meeting’s agenda.

Also at the meeting, several residents gave testimonies about how having ambulance service in the area made a difference in their lives.

Ceaser Nelson said he had a heart attack in July of 2007 and he’s “grateful for the ambulance service. I would hate to think what would have happened if they had not been there.”

Others agreed.

“It’s something that we really need. This is an important issue,” Denson Ford of Rose Hill said. “We need full-time ambulance service for all of Jasper County.”

Vonnzia Rigsby of Rose Hill also agreed.

“The mayor is working to try to move this area forward,” Rigsby said. “We, as a county, need to work together.”

Barnett said there’s a need.

“I think we need an ambulance on the east side of the county and an ambulance on the west side of the county,” Barnett said. “This is nothing against the supervisors, I just think we need ambulance service.”

Barnett said although the ambulance is stationed in Heidelberg, it serves a large number of communities outside the town’s incorporated limits.

“This affects more than Heidelberg,” he said. “This affects people in Rose Hill, Paulding, Wesley Chapel, Shady Grove, Oak Bowery and Beaver Meadow.”

Supervisor Johnny Rowell, the only supervisor who responded to the Leader-Call’s phone attempts to reach them, said the issue involved money.

Rowell said Jasper County only had one ambulance up until April when county officials authorized a second ambulance, which was made available in the eastern portion of the county on a trial basis.

“After six months, they (EmServ) told us the number of runs was not feasible,” Rowell said. “The county pays a lot for this service. They recommend we cut back to 12 hours instead of 24 hours.”

Rowell said the county pays EmServ a subsidy for the ambulance service. The county pays $72,000 subsidy a year for the ambulance stationed at Bay Springs, he said.

“Now they want $144,000 for the ambulance in Heidelberg,” the supervisor explained. “It’s not a East-West issue. It’s a dollar issue. The cost is too much.”

Rowell said the cost for the service comes out of the county’s general fund.

Barnett said all county taxpayers contribute to the general fund.

“How can you measure money over life?” Barnett said. “Full-time ambulance service is very much needed. ... Sometimes we have to fight for people who can’t fight for themselves.”

Barnett said citizens on the east side deserve to have an ambulance available when needed.

“This is not something we want. This is something we need in East Jasper,” the mayor said. “Everybody deserves ambulance service — not just a certain group. ... I think everyone should receive the same service, whether you are on the east or west side.”

The supervisors have announced that they are considering reducing the ambulance availability time in Heidelberg to 12 hours.

“What 12 hours do we decide to be sick?” Barnett asked. “We need an ambulance at all times just like others.”

Benny Hales said the Heidelberg area is growing and need adequate emergency medical services.

“You have to have good education and health care in order for a community to grow,” he said. “We can’t grow without good schools and health care services.”

Others agreed.

“We have five schools, a lot of oilfield work and increased railroad traffic. We need ambulance service full time,” Barnett said. “When people come to your area to consider locating here, they want to know about the educational systems and the medical services. These are things we need to progress.”

Barnett said the area has a lot of economic development and progress on the horizon.

Several citizens present praised Barnett for supporting this issue and fighting to help the people in Jasper County.

Barnett said this issue is important to all citizens.

“We don’t want to be selfish,” Barnett said. “We want everyone to have adequate emergency medical service.”