That's right, the Ireton proposals are crazy. Don't think for a second that Ireton and Hoppes' numbers are at all accurate. Liberal leaders always inflate the numbers and you can expect the County Executive and Staff to dissect the figures to get to the bottom of the TRUTH before they make ANY decision.
Ireton is suggesting a $0.15 tax increase on every $100.00 for County residents. This would average about $250.00 a year, (per resident) in the County.
Another option the City is considering is charging $650.00 to $700.00 an hour for every call they make into the County.
The Mayor and Fire Chief are out of their minds. Hoppes is set to retire in two years as Fire Chief. It would seem that both Ireton and Hoppes have nothing to lose as neither will be employed with the City by then.
Folks, it's not about serving the people. It's all about profit any more. When you run a ladder truck to an ambulance call every single time, of course the City is going to make it LOOK like they are out of pocket a ton of money. When you make several runs to the grocery store each day from different stations, of course there's going to be excessive wear and tear on vehicles. Hey, how about running 140 miles each way to a funeral!
Ireton and Hoppes are drama queens delivering a lot of false information. Mind you, there IS an overlap of service, no doubt about it. But let me assure you, the County delivers a lot of services to the City as well and I'm afraid Ireton opening this can of worms might start a storm rasidents in both the City and County don't want.
43 comments:
This is absurd -- Ireton and Day using a city employee to make political arguments for them. In truth, they are hiding behind him like cowards.
Hoppes should have told them that's not part of his job, which it is not.
Some may remember how Barrie Tilghman used city personnel -- Chiefy Webster in particular -- to carry her load as the nominal leader.
Did Bob Culver have a seat at the "Round Table", or was his corner cut off?
There is no way Culver can or will raise taxes--that is for sure--truly outrageous that this was even proposed as there is a tax cap law in Wicomico County--
Salisbury dump can screw themselves
Well, If I was Culver, I'd propose a tax increase and point the finger at Jim Ireton and Rick Pollitt. After all, it was Rick Pollitt who stated there was no doubt the County owes it to the City, yet NEVER paid for it.
Why was Chuck Cook up there?
Does this mean that i don't have to contribute to the Salisbury fire department anymore? Or drop money in the boot when they are standing on the street corner?
Never did a boot drive for funds for the department.
I know for a FACT that this is NOT the approach that Hoppes wants to do. He has been commanded by the Mayor (via tantrums and hissy fits) to present this information and these absurd proposals. Ireton seriously needs to grow up and start having a reasonable and rational approach to issues - he literally acts like a child to get his way and I've fairly certain that the majority of the things he has done is highly unethical, if not illegal.
I say let Jim pull SFD service back to the city limits. Instead of paying the City, the County could fund a couple more fire stations on the east and west sides of the city to cover what Salisbury gives up. Then what happens to the city? Well... they'll have all these fancy trucks, tons of employees, big ole fire stations and half the calls. What happens then? Equipment gets surplussed, employees get laid off and stations close. Not to mention how much of a pain in the ass it would be to serve just the city with the way the city limits have grown in the most ridiculous patterns ever. But that's OK, the overgrown 3 year old got his way...
How does this bode for the north end fire station that they plan to build in a few years?
RETIRE ALREADY HOPPES....you can't control your employees anyway.
As 9:05AM states above, Rick didn't want to do any of this. He is being forced to by the mayor. He thinks the entire this is ridiculous.
I hope this backfires on Jim. I hope bob gets the last laugh. Careful what you wish for Jim.
I see Mr. Wal-Mart is there front and center. Hey Buddy, How many times have voters told you to bug off? Get the hint, but then again your work at Wal-Mart.
Side Note: I love how he's defending Wal-mart's action of laying off 2,000 workers with a true BS excuse.
Let the Salisbury volunteers run the calls. It works in all other places in the county. Just make sure they take their equipment that they have paid for with them along with their checkbook!
Well how about we do this make a COUNTY WIDE EMS system like Sussex county, staff a paramedic at each Volunteer FD and have a chase unit or two that will assist on calls etc... Let Jim Ireton see how much he will miss all the money he gets from AMBULANCE billing for running ambulance calls in the "county". That will shut him up.
I'm sick and tired of my taxes being raised because my gov't can't live within it's means. GDed if I don't have to do it! They're making it more and more difficult every minute.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
This is absurd -- Ireton and Day using a city employee to make political arguments for them. In truth, they are hiding behind him like cowards.
Hoppes should have told them that's not part of his job, which it is not.
Some may remember how Barrie Tilghman used city personnel -- Chiefy Webster in particular -- to carry her load as the nominal leader.
April 22, 2015 at 7:36 AM
Cheefy Hoppes kissed a lot of butt to get that position and did a lot of back stabbing. He is at Jim Ireton's mercy right now.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Did Bob Culver have a seat at the "Round Table", or was his corner cut off?
April 22, 2015 at 7:37 AM
I heard there was no round table. They were all square. Sort of like that block head on Chief Hopeless. What a sucker.
What part of "the County has already paid for services from all 3 stations" don't Rick Hoppes and Jim Ireton understand. Rick Hoppes claims that the Salisbury Fire Department is one department so why is the County paying them for 3 instead of 1?? The other stations in the County only get paid for 1 so the City should feel fortunate.
JoeAlbero said...
Well, If I was Culver, I'd propose a tax increase and point the finger at Jim Ireton and Rick Pollitt. After all, it was Rick Pollitt who stated there was no doubt the County owes it to the City, yet NEVER paid for it.
April 22, 2015 at 7:51 AM
That statement by Rick Pollitt was false. The County is already paying for a service. Why is Salisbury getting paid extra and the other stations don't.
If I was Bob Culver I would take over EMS in the County and collect the billing from Ambulance transports.
Look at that goofball Manure Bota sitting up front. That goof wants to be an elected nobody so bad that I believe he would perform you know what on the mare.
Anonymous said...
I know for a FACT that this is NOT the approach that Hoppes wants to do.
April 22, 2015 at 9:05 AM
Why are you lying for this fat slob. Hoppes has had these figures and proposals ready for several years. Do you think Jim Ireton invented these ideas. HELL NO!! Rick Hoppes did and gave them to the Mayor.
Quit lying for that liar!!
Anonymous said...
RETIRE ALREADY HOPPES....you can't control your employees anyway.
April 22, 2015 at 9:52 AM
Hoppes should never been appointed as the fire chief anyway. He stabbed people in the back and Ireton played right along.
Anonymous said...
RETIRE ALREADY HOPPES....you can't control your employees anyway.
April 22, 2015 at 9:52 AM
I say fire him. He is incompetent anyway and Ireton passed him over 5 times before he had a mental lapse and appointed him just to screw with Debbie, Terry and Tim.
April 22, 2015 at 9:52 AM
As much as we hated Jeff Simpson we now know that Jeff Simpson was ready to fire that tool and demoted Hoppes. Hoppes looked like a sad puppy for almost a year. I am still LMFAO about that.
Anonymous said...
Let the Salisbury volunteers run the calls. It works in all other places in the county. Just make sure they take their equipment that they have paid for with them along with their checkbook!
April 22, 2015 at 10:58 AM
That's a good idea, but the first thing you have to do is bring the volunteers back and recruit some new ones. Rick Hoppes did a good job of running off good vollies with his bogus job requirements that weren't justified. He intentionally ran off the volunteers so he could hire more paid firemen. It's a fact. How do you think he was able to hire the 12 with the free money grant. Had to run off the volunteers first and say they were scratching on calls all the time.
Hoppes never holds himself accountable for anything just like his followers, Insley (bar stool warmer..Bragg...(bar stool warmer) but at least he is gone, Adams...to many crazy ass issues with that one.
Don't the departments already bill the insurance companies for their response?
The county is obligated to provide services in the city, but not the other way around unless there's some written agreement.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
This is absurd -- Ireton and Day using a city employee to make political arguments for them. In truth, they are hiding behind him like cowards.
Hoppes should have told them that's not part of his job, which it is not.
Some may remember how Barrie Tilghman used city personnel -- Chiefy Webster in particular -- to carry her load as the nominal leader.
April 22, 2015 at 7:36 AM
You are wrong about them using Cheef Fatty. I know for a fact that Rick Hoppes and his staff worked diligently on this information so that they can push Jim Ireton into forcing the county into negotiations. It's all about greed for Rick Hoppes. He wants to build his Kingdom and wants to make a name for himself as a fire chief of a larger fire department. It's all about image. He loves to read about himself as being something he is not.
Anonymous said...
Well how about we do this make a COUNTY WIDE EMS system like Sussex county, staff a paramedic at each Volunteer FD and have a chase unit or two that will assist on calls etc... Let Jim Ireton see how much he will miss all the money he gets from AMBULANCE billing for running ambulance calls in the "county". That will shut him up.
April 22, 2015 at 11:14 AM
This is the best answer I have heard so far. If it has been successful in Sussex County for many years why can't it be successful here.
Anonymous said...
Don't the departments already bill the insurance companies for their response?
April 22, 2015 at 1:56 PM
Yes all ambulances in the county including Salisbury bill the person and/or the insurance company and make a killing doing so.
In Salisbury they raise the ambulance fee every yeas as high as allowable. The city gets those fees and it goes directly into the city general fund. If the person has no insurance then they are sued by the city. Ireton would lose a lot of revenue if the city gave up transports in the county.
Anonymous said...
Hoppes never holds himself accountable for anything just like his followers, Insley (bar stool warmer..Bragg...(bar stool warmer) but at least he is gone, Adams...to many crazy ass issues with that one.
April 22, 2015 at 1:55 PM
Ha Ha Ha! Ain't that the truth. I think Bragg has a drinking problem and as a matter of fact he was fired by Simpson then turned around and got his job back because he had become drinking buddies with Jim Ireton.
If you look into the background of Adams you will see that he is a very mentally unstable person who was also nearly fired by Simpson. He almost lost his job as was demoted down to Lieutenant. Former Chief Higgins protected him and now he is keeping his job in the Salisbury Fire Department because his butt buddy Higgins went to bat for Hoppes to be fire chief if he protected Adams. If a background was really done on Adams you would find he is highly medicated and unfit for the job. Adams was one of the old guys with rank that was in the cross hairs of Simpson and Hoppes to get rid of so they both could promote their own.
Anonymous said...
The county is obligated to provide services in the city, but not the other way around unless there's some written agreement.
April 22, 2015 at 2:59 PM
Here we go again with an idiot know it all that doesn't know sh!t. Please tell us where you got this information because indeed it isn't factual.
Wicomico County is NOT obligated to provide EMS anywhere in Wicomico County.
Please site your sources dummy or we will consider you another troll on this blog.
To 1:55...exactly. ..why aren't backgrounds done. What happened to surprise drug testing? And those with a prescription mostly are still abusers because they get scripts from multiple doctors...when does it end?
Cheers to keeping the mentally unstable employees to a public service that puts people at risk! Way to go City of Salisbury! WTF....i bet Adams has some s**t on Hoppes!
Adams definitely has a problem...who remembers the incident of him busting out the window of an attorneys window downtown one night while under the influence. . Ask his first two wives...abuse was involved...records are public. At least they knew when enough was enough. It would be nice if the boss man would have the balls to do the same.
Anonymous said...
Cheers to keeping the mentally unstable employees to a public service that puts people at risk! Way to go City of Salisbury! WTF....i bet Adams has some s**t on Hoppes!
April 22, 2015 at 7:11 PM
That would be my guess.
Anonymous said...
Cheers to keeping the mentally unstable employees to a public service that puts people at risk! Way to go City of Salisbury! WTF....i bet Adams has some s**t on Hoppes!
April 22, 2015 at 7:11 PM
Former Chief Higgins met with Jim Ireton and Jake Day making deals with them about getting Station 2 support from the volunteers if they promoted Rick Hoppes. Then Higgins and Hoppes had a pack to protect Bunky Adams.
The proof is in the pictures of Rick Hoppes attending the election night party of Jim Ireton, Jake Day, Laura Mitchel and Shanie Shields. Yes Rick Hoppes was in attendance hugging and kissing on Jake Day and Jim Ireton. Deals were made.
It's a Crooked mess in that Fire
Dept. Hoppes at the head!
No Culver did not attend, nor has the mayor been attending the Mayors Round Table meetings. It is sadly very poorly attended unless there's to be a really hot topic I suppose.
Ok, I do medical billing for one of the county departments. Let me inform you of some real facts. Say a county department runs 40 EMS calls for the month of April. They then send out those reports out to Medical Claim Aid for the billing process to begin. Typical starting billing for a BLS call is $450 and typical starting billing for an ALS call is $700, then a charge of $15 per mile while being transported to the hospital. Based on thaws numbers the average bill is $625. So that's 40x$625 = $25,000 each month that's billed. However I can say for a fact that only about 45-55% of all calls will receive ANY kind of reimbursement. most all insurance companies will not pay anything it the call was a BLS call because in their eyes it must not have been a true emergency. However 70% of all EMS calls are BLS! Next the average reimbursement for an ALS call is $200-250. The remainder of the unpaid bill is then sent to the patient themselves. Two notices of the bill are sent out. If the bill goes unpaid then the fire department rights the non-reimbursed amount as a tax right off. NOT 1 county department takes these bills to a collections agency! Now I can tell you from experience that of the $25,000 that was originally billed for the department is lucky if they collect between $6,000-8,000 of it. That's $72,000-96,000 collected each year for $300,000 that's billed. Now take into account how much it costs to pay for 24/365 paramedic coverage at $18/hr; salary is $157,680.00/yr, health insurance contributions is about $48,000/hr, workers comp is about $3,000/yr, retirement contributions is around $15,000/yr, uniform expenses is around $2,000/yr. That comes out to $225,680.00/yr for 24/365 paramedic coverage. The county only contributes around $160,000 to each county department for EMS services each year. That the departments are still in the whole $65,280 JUST to pay for their paramedics. Say the department is lucky enough to collect $100,000/yr in medical billing. Subtract the $65,280 and you are left with $34,720/yr to save for new ambulances, save for new medical equipment such as the Lucas device ($16,000), manual stretcher ($4,500), or power stretcher ($13,500), AED ($2,000), cardiac monitor ($35,000), oxygen supplier contract, or how about medical supplies and medications (PRMC does not supply everything) which has an annual cost of about $8,000/yr for each ambulance, oh let's not forget about fuel, maintenance, and repair costs.
I'm sure you can see how county companies are NOT making a killing off medical billing. Many of the county departments EMS budget is in the REDS each and every year.
Here's the pertinent question: If we were just beginning to provide fire and ambulance services across the county how would we go about it?
Such a service would also cover Salisbury, but since they have chosen to establish police, fire, ambulance service they would be first responders in the city.
It seems to me the county has a duty to provide equivalent service within the city but only if, and after, the city falls short. Until that point neither city or county are spending a dime on each other.
If the city chooses not to assist beyond its boundaries it can expense its equipment and payroll on the backs of its citizens without benefit of any county funds. Probably won't like to try that shoe on!
And the funds the county currently gives/shares/pays the city can be spent shoring up any coverage weak spots the city's posturing creates.
Net result: Better service and coverage in the outskirts, and city crews can start reducing wear and tear (except for food runs).
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