To The Editor:
I recently spoke with one of the Tucker County Commissioners regarding the levy for the Ambulance Authority to be voted on in the November Election… I asked two questions and they were (1) Have accounts in default for non-payment of services performed by the EMS been sent to a collection agency or what efforts are or have been made to collect these funds? (2) Will the $50 fee paid by taxpayers over the past three years be credited back to their tax accounts?
Many taxpayers paid this fee but there were also taxpayers who refused to pay. It was stated in the billing that fines and liens on property would be placed IF NOT PAID… which, personally, I perceived to be a result to me and my property if I did not pay.
The Commissioner I spoke with said he was not on the commission when the $50 fee was assessed and could not speak to whether or not anything would or could be done to reimburse the taxpayers who complied with this fee as he and I had done. The fee had been assessed unlawfully and thus the reason to stop the fee and try again to pass a levy to help fund the EMS. He also stated that he is not aware of how the Authority goes about trying to collect on the accounts that are delinquent. I asked if the accounts were sent to a collection agency or reported to the credit bureaus and again he responded that he did not know this either.
BEFORE the election the citizens of Tucker County need to have these very basic questions responded to by the commission and the Ambulance Authority. I am not saying how I plan to vote on this levy I just feel, strongly, that these questions need to be answered and would appreciate an open answer to the public.
Respectfully,
Charlotte Vanscoy
Porterwood Community