How to get ambulance district to town vote unclear

If the Town of Whitehall were to join the Jefferson Valley Rural Ambulance District the decision would need to be made by registered voters. The process of how to get town voters to decide if they would join the district created in 2017 is however unclear.

District Chair Sue Pullman gave a short presentation to the Whitehall Council Monday and said it is important to understand the district is established and functioning and if Whitehall residents wanted to join they would have to talk to their council members.

Pullman, Town Clerk/Treasurer Summer Fellows, and Council Member Montina Rawson said at the meeting a resolution of intent by the governing body followed by a petition drive would be needed to get the issue to the voters. Jefferson County Commissioner Leonard Wortman said he does not think there needs to be a petition drive and there just needs to be a resolution of intent.

The district currently includes the Whitehall School District, excluding the Town of Whitehall and Silver Bow and Madison Counties. In September, the District Board accepted a request from Partners United For Live Saving Education (PULSE)/Jefferson Valley Emergency Medical Services and Rescue to provide ambulance services for the district.

Pullman said the reason these districts are being formed is because ambulance services throughout the state are really struggling financially to perform their services.

Pullman added Madison County has reached out to the district about adding the areas within the school district area, as well as the possibility of including Harrison in the district.

Mayor Mary Janacaro Hensleigh said they did not budget lawyer time to work on this type of resolution so if it were to move forward it would have to be in next years budget.

The current yearly cost for the district for a parcel of land with an occupied dwelling is $29.