Monday night’s council meeting could be called the “live-iest” ever. Every minute streamed on Facebook Live.
Even now, go to Mountain City’s Facebook page to play the full and uncensored meeting.
The long segment of meeting spent on ESD 9 boiled down to this: the vote on Nov. 5 on whether or not Mountain City joins Emergency Services District #9 is a referendum on whether an ambulance will come when you call 9-1-1.
For readers living in ESD #9 (i.e., Kyle), the vote on whether to allow Mountain City, and some Hays County unincorporated areas, into the ESD is a vote on whether or not to accept our tax dollars.
Both our request to come in and their request to allow us in must pass.
The board of the not-for-profit entity that contracts out ambulances to several ESDs, will not allow their ambulances to travel to Mountain City, as a sound business practice, if the measure fails.
The paramedics at our fire station will continue to respond to medical emergencies in Mountain City, if not on a fire-related call. But fire trucks are not allowed by law to provide medical transport.
We will pay taxes the same as others in the ESD pay, 6 cents per $100 property tax valuation. That’s about $180 on a $300,000 home.
If we require medical transport, we (or our insurance) will be billed about $1,000, which is a portion of the annual operating budget for equipment, 24/7 emergency medical services personnel and more.
Property tax assessments and payments for service, together, keep the ambulances rolling.
Paramedics rushed over in the fire truck as the meeting ended. No one had called 9-1-1. On Facebook Live, the firemen saw a citizen ask for sugar when he felt the symptoms of low blood sugar.
Earlier this month, Baltimore Orioles gobbled sugary grape jelly and orange vesicles from orange halves offered in Mountain City by Patricia Porterfield, Laura Craig and me. (Laura and Patricia sent word to me.)
Laura Craig snapped a photo of a green anole poised at an orange half as small insects partook in the oriole’s leftovers.
Laura and Patricia both attended FUN annual October Bunco at my house.
Traditions! If this report played sound, you’d hear “Monster Mash” and other fun, corny monster songs.
Always we have a mixture of peanuts and candy corn - the mixture tastes like a PayDay candy bar.
The candy corn and ghosts nightshirt I purchased more than 40 years ago made its annual appearance. And others joined in with dressing for the occasion.
What a splendid group of friends. We ended with a photo of our Halloween socks around the Texas star in our wood floor.
We start with holding hands around the pool table for the blessing. In between are lots of laughter and conversation. This is a segment of real life in Mountain City.
What’s up in Mountain City? Please send tidbits. [email protected]. Thanks. Love to you, PTom
