Meadowlakes Council votes for savings

BY GLYNIS CRAWFORD SMITH
THE HIGHLANDER

The Meadowlakes City Council voted July 19 to save the city about $500 by making an additional payment on the lease-purchase agreement of a city water tank.
City Manager Johnnie Thompson was authorized to make an additional principal payment of $27,408.
The council also authorized the transfer of approximately $12,000 from the general fund for the repair of cart paths on the Hidden Falls Golf Course.
Members voted to execute a letter of engagement to retain Neffendorf, Knopp, Doss & Company, P.C. of Fredericksburg for conducting the fiscal year 2016 financial audit. The total cost of $14,500 will be only a $250 increase over the previous year's contract.
The cost increase is to be more in a three-year contract with the Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Care Service, Inc. (MFAEMS), the first increase in seven years.
A $2,000 per year increase accepted by the council will bring the total cost for Fiscal Year 2017 $35,500.
Johnny Campbell, MFAEMS executive director and a Meadowlakes resident, presented a report EMS activities. He previously had spelled out for the council how payment of fees charged directly to clients had dwindled until the local EMS had, for the first time turned to a collection service.
“Since Oct. 1, 2015, Meadowlakes has accounted for 187 of the ambulance calls—just over 5 percent of the 3,640 total calls to date,” related Mayor Mary Ann Raesener. “For comparison, in 2007 (the year I retired here), there were 105 Meadowlakes calls.”
She said Campbell reported an average time of seven minutes before an ambulance is at the door of a Meadowlakes caller.