The above quote is attributable to EndPoint Consultants.Funded by an emergency grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, EndPoint Consultants delivered a Phase One review of emergency medical services (EMS) status to the Board of Supervisors, last Tuesday. The important fact to note is there was no new information disclosed to the supervisors and the public and nothing had been disclosed in the report made previously aware.#placement_573654_0_i{width:100%;max-width:550px;margin:0 auto;}var rnd = window.rnd || Math.floor(Math.random()*10e6);var pid573654 = window.pid573654 || rnd;var plc573654 = window.plc573654 || 0;var abkw = window.abkw || '';var absrc = 'https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;ID=181918;size=0x0;setID=573654;type=js;sw='+screen.width+';sh='+screen.height+';spr='+window.devicePixelRatio+';kw='+abkw+';pid='+pid573654+';place='+(plc573654++)+';rnd='+rnd+';click=CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER';var _absrc = absrc.split("type=js"); absrc = _absrc[0] + 'type=js;referrer=' + encodeURIComponent(document.location.href) + _absrc[1];document.write('');A special Ad Hoc Committee for the Board was created some 18 months ago. Comprising the Ad Hoc were Supervisors Darrin Short and Valerie Starkey. North Coast EMS director Larry Karstadt was also part of the Ad Hoc group.Karstadt advised the two Supervisors the idea of supplanting Del Norte Ambulance had no evidence to support replacement. Over the decades, Del Norte Ambulance has earned endorsements from Sutter Coast Hospital, the Del Norte Sheriff Dept, and customers who’ve experienced DNAMB.Still, the Ad Hoc moved ahead seeking a request for Proposal (RFP) recommending the full board explore options to replace DNAMB. The costs associated EndPoint are approaching $150,000 and heading north from this point. The question begs to be asked: Is this cost to conduct the EndPoint oversight justified?To date, DHHS has yet to declare the emergency; nonetheless, supervisors voted 3-2 months ago to move forward on a request for Proposal (RFP) instead of grandfathering Del Norte Ambulance (DNAMB) contract after 2027.At last Tuesday’s Board meeting, Karstadt, re-introduced Nancy Lapolla and John Eaglesham of EndPoint to deliver its assessment of phase one of the EMS system in Del Norte.Evaluated areas included the Sheriff Dispatch process, Bay City Ambulance agreement with the County, Del Norte Ambulance, North Coast EMS agreement and the Continuous Quality Improvement Process.Because of the relatively modest amount of 911 calls, EndPoint conducted a two year study for 2023 and 2024. This last year, 9-1-1 calls were down from 2023.Del Norte Ambulance was definitely the elephant in the room. Five different fire chiefs in Del Norte also affixed their signatures on a document stating Del Norte Ambulance was inadequate to serve the public and urged the Board to move forward on the RFP. The Triplicate attempted to follow up with all five, none of the chiefs did not return calls to explain their vote following the release of the letter.To the contrary, the independent EndPoint Consultants joined other agencies who found no issue with Del Norte Ambulance and displayed no deficiencies. DNAMB was and is quite adequate, debunking the chiefs, the two Ad Hoc supervisors.The one area of concern of needed improvement was directed to Sheriff dispatch.Supervisor Dean Wilson, a former Sheriff, supported the EndPoint presentation and underscored the challenges in hiring and retaining dispatchers.Charles Tweed, General Manager of Del Norte Ambulance read a letter from DNAMB principal Ron Sandler, who was unable to attend Tuesday’s presentation for medical reasons. Tweed stated “It’s time to do the right thing.” Supervisor Chris Howard concurred with Wilson and expressed his support for DNAMB. Except for a non-related question on a discrepancy on EndPoint reporting how 9-1-1 Emergency calls are tallied, Supervisor Darrin Short, also a volunteer fireman, was uncharacteristically mum with no questions or comments on the revelation delivered by EndPoint.DNAMB conducts its business satisfactorily. No comments from member Valerie Starkey…more crickets…and who has heretofore been critical of DNAMB operations. Chairman Joey Borges continued his silence similar to his behavior at each Board meeting, by failing to communicate with the public on his positions.Two questions must be asked: Will the Board continue to squander precious revenue for no apparent reason other than ego satisfaction? And is the newly-merged Crescent City Fire and Rescue seeking to supplant a four decades plus Del Norte Ambulance with a new office in Klamath, for what appears to be a purely political move? googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1515727'); });