By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Six unincorporated townships will continue to receive ambulance service through the City of Whitewater’s fire and rescue department in 2016, as part of a plan adopted recently.
The Whitewater Common Council on Oct. 20 issued contracts for ambulance service in the towns of Cold Spring, Johnstown, Koshkonong, Lima, Richmond and Whitewater. None of the half-dozen communities have municipal services that are equipped with ambulance responders.
The amount each township pays the city for ambulance calls varies and depends on such factors as distance and population. Beyond the flat rates, the city will charge recipients of ambulance services on a per-call basis.
Town of Cold Spring will pay a flat fee of $6,004 for ambulance calls in 2016, while the Town of Koshkonong will contribute $3,576.
The Town of Johnstown will pay the city $1,278, and the Town of Lima will pay $9,330. Rounding out the participants are the Town of Richmond, at $7,278, and the Town of Whitewater, at $15,068.
In other recent business, the Whitewater Common Council:
- Adopted a transportation plan for the state Highway 59 reconstruction project eyed for 2020. While the state is covering all of the costs in revamping the major thoroughfare, the city is handling some of the logistical aspects of the planning process, including obtaining right-of-way access and property easements.
- Adopted a series of permit rules for agricultural equipment on city streets in an effort to comply with revised state statutes that were enacted a year-and-a-half ago.
- Changed a provision for the appointed Board of Zoning Appeals. Based on council action, the board must meet a minimum of two hours during the first meeting. City ordinance previously set the threshold at four hours.
- Amended city ordinance to allow for concealed-carry weapons, transportation of firearms in vehicles and bow hunting on private land within city limits. All of the changes are designed to conform to revised state statutes.
