Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services Employee Association

By Patrick George AMERICAN-STATESMAN

The Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved a $127,000 study to analyze the performance of the county’s portion of Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. The study, to be conducted by the Virginia-based Management Advisory Group Inc., includes assessing EMS ground and air ambulance services, analyzing response times and finding ways to better utilize existing Travis County emergency services such as the fire departments outside of Austin and STAR Flight helicopters. It will also analyze the county’s financial agreement with the City of Austin for its emergency medical services.

The court approved the study as part of its consent agenda Tuesday without discussion.

But Steve Stewart, president of the Austin-Travis County EMS Employees Association, said he’s fearful that the study could recommend Travis County split off from the emergency medical service it has shared with the City of Austin since the agency’s inception in 1976. (more…)

PAC Shade 911The Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services Employee Association supports incumbent Council Member Randi Shade in the runoff election for City Council Place 3. Shade has been instrumental in supporting Public Safety and ATCEMS to provide essential emergency services within the Austin Community. Here a few of the cornerstone highlights for EMS during Randi’s term:

• Supported funding for peak-load ambulances necessary for providing augmented response capability, in known periods of high call volume, in strategic areas within the city. This is paramount to maintaining uniform geographic coverage by keeping ambulances in their assigned district, as much as possible, and concentrating additional coverage in the core area during periods of high call volume. (more…)

Public safety unions endorse Shade, Morrison, and Riley for re-election
By Mike Kanin

Perhaps the most important of endorsing organizations—especially when they work together—Austin’s three public safety unions announced their support for the three incumbent candidates for City Council on Thursday. Their endorsements are of particular importance to Council Member Randi Shade, the only one of the three running for re-election facing significant challengers.

Shade and Place 4 Council Member Laura Morrison are running for their second full terms. Place 1′s Chris Riley – who was elected to fill the seat Mayor Lee Leffingwell left for his current role — is seeking his first full term in office.

Riley and Morrison each have one official challenger. Though they had yet to file their paperwork as of Thursday afternoon, former Council Member Max Nofziger and Planning Commission member Kathie Tovo have each indicated that they will challenge Shade for her seat. The last day for candidates to file their forms is Monday.
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