The EMS issue involving Washington and Beaufort County is on the City Council’s agenda for its meeting Monday.

For more than a year, city officials and county officials have discussed EMS coverage in Washington Township, which includes the Old Ford and Clark’s Neck areas. Currently, the county pays the city to provide that coverage. During the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners meeting Feb. 6, the board’s inaction on several options resulted in their EMS-related actions Oct. 3, 2016, standing, which means the county cancels its $157,256 EMS contract with the city.

In the wake of that development, city staff is seeking direction from the City Council and mayor on how to address the EMS matter, especially the loss of revenue to the city. “We have several options for the City Council to consider and are not limited to one or any other arrangement the City Council feels appropriate,” City Manager Bobby Roberson wrote in a memorandum to the mayor and council members.

Those options include the following:

• adjust the 2017-2018 fiscal year budget by subtracting the contract amount for the city to provide EMS coverage in the Old Ford and Clark’s Neck areas;
• continue to provide EMS coverage to Washington residents and Washington Park residents under the existing contract between the two municipalities;
• inform Beaufort County the city intends to turn over all its EMS services to the county’s EMS agency effective July 1;
• in the upcoming fiscal year, the city continues to discuss EMS coverage with the county and enter into a contract for the city to provide EMS services in the city limits and enter into a contractual arrangement with the county to be paid for providing EMS coverage in the city limits.

The council’s agenda also indicates a discussion regarding moving the Washington Harbor District Alliance’s Farmers Market to the parking lot at the intersection of South Bonner and Water streets. The Farmers Market has been at the west end of the Stewart Parkway promenade for several years.

The council could discuss a proposal to place a Charters of Freedom display somewhere in the city. The proposed project, which showcases replicas of the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, was discussed at the commissioners’ Feb. 6 meeting.

The council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers in the Municipal Building, 102 E. Second St. To view the council’s agenda for a specific meeting, visit the city’s web­site at www.washingtonnc.gov, click “City Agendas.” Locate the appropriate agenda (by date) under the “Washington City Council” heading, then click on that specific agenda listing.