Mid-Sussex Rescue
faces financial crisis
By Jim Cresson
Local legislators and state fire
service officials are meeting, May
2, to begin discussions on what
they see as the eventual demise of
Mid-Sussex Rescue Squad in
Long Neck. A financing problem
appears to also be endemic to sev-
eral other ambulance services,
statewide, that are not affiliated
with fire companies.
Sen. George H. Bunting Jr.
drafted an April 24 letter on the
subject to Sussex County Council-
man Lynn Rogers and County Ad-
ministrator Bob Stickels, with
copies to the governor, the state
fire commissioner, the Sussex
County Chiefs Association, Sus-
sex County volunteer Firemen As-
sociation, Sussex county Ambu-
lance Association and Delaware
Economic Development Office.
The Bunting letter reads, in
part: "I would like to formally re-
quest your input in seeking solu-
tions to the potential ceasing of
operations of the Mid-Sussex Res-
cue Squad. There has been a re-
quest made to the State Auditor's
Office tO do an audit and establish
the financial situation of the Mid-
Sussex Rescue Squad. There are
many questions regarding their fi-
nances that need to be accurately
answered for all those involved
and especially the public at large."
The letter contihues: "Mid-Sus-
sex's ability to provide ambulance
service in a growth area with few-
er volunteers has meant that paid
personnel have had to make up the
difference. This is not a new prob-
lem to the county or the state, but.
one that seems to be worsening.
We are finding that most fire com-
panies with ambulance services
must rely on their fire service
money to carry their ambulance
service with some exceptions.
"This issue is vital to the health
and welfare of the citizens of
Long Neck area with the conse-
quences of diminished ambulance
service and all the ramifications of
that possibility. The public is
looking to the leadership of the
county and state to help resolve
this issue and provide a long-term
solution. Working together, I be-
lieve we can find a solution."
In a discussion of the problem,
Sen. Gary Simpson, R-Milford,
said: "Part of this is symptomatic
of a growing state problem with a
growing population. Ambulance
trips are growing. Fire companies
spend more and more money on
staffing ambulance operations.
Without the support of fire com-
panies, independent ambulance
services find it tough to continue
operation. It's happening at Mid-
Sussex, and It's happening in oth-
er areas of the state. We have to
find a way to halt the problem,
and that way may be to find fire
companies to support these inde-
pendent ambulance operations."
Simpson and Bunting would not
speculate whether the construc-
Continued on page 19
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Jim Cmuon photo
Two new ambulances in the newly built Mid-Sussex Rescue Squad building stand ready to
respond to Long Neck area people in need of assistance. Those new vehicles and the new
building may be a large part of the reason why Mid-Sussex Rescue Squad's money is running
out. Those close to the issue say the service that began in 1972 my be out of operation as soon
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