Plans to implement a non-emergency transportation program were stifled Thursday at a meeting of the Rio Rico Fire District Board of Directors.

The program is an issue Fire Chief Mike Foster and Secretary Treasurer Jose Munoz, who comprise the entire board, have several times been divided on.

Munoz earlier said that he believed that the program was too costly for the district and that available funds should be used to maintain and upgrade other vehicles in the department inventory. “We have vehicles that are falling apart �“ ambulances that are reaching 400,000 miles �“ we have engines that are having issues. We don’t have the money to support another vehicle that is not going to be generating any revenue for us.”

Munoz said the department had a driver when the $11,477 was allocated in the department’s budget for a handicap-equipped van. Department funds account for 20 percent of the cost of the van, with the remainder coming as a grant from the Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization (SEAGO) under the Section 5310 program to help meet the needs of elderly and persons with disabilities, Munoz said.

that are having issues. We don’t have the money to support another vehicle that is not going to be generating any revenue for us.”

Munoz said the department had a driver when the $11,477 was allocated in the department’s budget for a handicap-equipped van. Department funds account for 20 percent of the cost of the van, with the remainder coming as a grant from the Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization (SEAGO) under the Section 5310 program to help meet the needs of elderly and persons with disabilities, Munoz said.

His reasoning for opposing the van program centered around department personnel and equipment. “Wouldn’t you rather have firefighters, EMTs and paramedics show up at your house in an ambulance that works rather than an independent contractor show up in a wheelchair-accessible van? Instead of hiring an independent contractor, I could hire another EMT or firefighter,” Munoz said.

The proposal from the independent contractor to operate the van is currently under review by the district’s attorney, Foster told residents at the meeting. The attorney will provide the department with language for the contract and recommendations on required insurance for the program.

Foster stated that the department could get the $11,477 back only if the van was granted to another organization by SEAGO. He said that an independent contractor is more cost-effective than using a department employee.

The van issue was tabled until a report from the attorney could be obtained, including information on how the independent contractor would account for the $52,000 annual cost estimated by Munoz to run the program -- $32,000 to pay the contractor and $20,000 for the maintenance and upkeep of the van.

Munoz has not seen the proposal, but did see previous recommendations, which drove him to vote against the plan, he said. “They can study it all they want. I don’t see where the money is.”

Sandei Jackson, who submitted the proposal as an independent contractor, said, “There are at least 100 people (in Rio Rico) who requested transportation from Nogales Rides” which is a program operated by the City of Nogales.

That program cannot respond because Nogales Rides’ drivers can’t leave the city limits. “If you just take that number of individuals -- 100 people -- with a minimum of $5 (each) to take them shopping in Rio Rico twice a month, you come up with $14,000.”

Grants are also available, she said. “I’ve done two months’ worth of research. It is true that if the program relied on fees and donations by the seniors and disabled, it would not pay for itself. The way it does pay for itself is through grants �“ in addition to that, corporate sponsorship. I can say that Avatar is very interested in doing some level of partnership. It’s going to be significant in regards to putting a dent into the anticipated expenses.”

Patty Hilton, grant administrator for the fire district, said there was a $5,000 grant for the operation of the program available when the van programs originally surfaced.

“We were awarded $5,000 right off the bat for that purpose,” Hilton said.

Subsequently, another grant of $10,000 became available for operation of the program. “That’s sitting on the table right now. We should know in a month how that’s going to go.”

Some grants are renewable yearly, Hilton said, and some are one-time grants. However, Hilton anticipates that the program would be self-sustaining after the first year.

Eleanor Brown, President of the Advisory Council to the Council on Aging in Rio Rico, recently wrote a letter for Jackson to take to the Rio Rico Fire Department, stating that area seniors have a need for van transportation.

“I don’t want to base the van strictly on the seniors’ needs,” Brown said. “There are others who could use the van service for hospital and doctors’ visits besides the seniors.”

The current driver for events that the seniors from Rio Rico use is Willy Armijo from Tubac. “He is the site manager for the Tubac senior group. He uses the van belonging to the Tubac Council on Aging. It’s available to the seniors of Rio Rico Community Center when he’s available to take them,” Brown said.

Armijo took Rio Rico seniors on a trip to Tucson for $25, she said. That trip included coming down from Amado to pick up the persons.

The proposal from Jackson would charge $25 for one person to Tucson and $15 for one person to Nogales, mainly for doctor’s appointments, Brown said. “In reality, it’s too much for the seniors. Friends will take them at no cost or for gas money (when they are available). It’s a joke, what they want to charge for this van.”