LCS: ESD4 renews fight for ballot placement

For a second year in a row, petitioners will approach the Palo Pinto County Commissioner’s court at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 12, with the hopes of getting the creation of Emergency Service District 4 placed on the 2019 general elections ballot.

An Emergency Service District is a political subdivision, like a school district or hospital district, which is formed to provide emergency services like fire or medical care to a community. Palo Pinto County currently has two ESDs and ESD 1 currently provides services to Possum Kingdom’s Eastside.

The Commissioner’s denied to place the creation of ESD 4 on the ballot last year, because an election was held in 2015 for the creation of an ESD which would have served PK East but failed, and the services are in place with ESD 1 per the statement of services which they issued on July 30, 2018 which was just two weeks before the set public hearing at the Commissioner’s Court.

The statement of services filed by ESD 1’s board of directors stated they already provide EMS in PK East and stated it does not agree to relinquish power, service or authority to any proposed new districts therefore had ESD 4 been created would not be able duplicate services of ESD 1 which includes their desired EMS service. ESD 1 is required to file a statement of services under Texas Health and Safety Code chapter 775 section 20. The 2015 election for the creation of the new ESD resulted in 482 people voting against while 134 voted for the creation.

“The reality here is, is that it is actually a different set of people (than last year) who wanted to come forward with another valid petition,” Erin Humphries, with the ESD 4 Political Action Committee, said. “I’m involved because I still believe in the effort.”

For the rest of the story, see the Wednesday, Aug. 7 edition of The Graham Leader.