Being good neighbors

With last week’s action by the Washakie County Commissioners to finalize the purchase of the home at 603 North Road 11 for the new ambulance station, it is time for the community to move forward and make this move work best for everyone.

The commissioners listened to concerns and mitigation requests from neighbors Dick Kroger and DJ Vanderwerff at their April 18 meeting.

Some of the mitigation requests are reasonable and the county, wanting to be good neighbors, are considering several of them. In fact, the commissioners had already agreed to consider many of them prior to the April 18 meeting including a privacy fence, silencing sirens until the ambulance arrives at US 16 and silencing the back-up alarm when possible.

Landscaping was another request, which is not unreasonable, and I think something the county would want regardless of where the station was located.

Two of the mitigation requests seemed a bit out of touch for any new neighbor, including mitigating daily noise. Would Vanderwerff and Kroger make the same request if the average citizen had purchased the property? Would they tell a family that kids could not play outdoors because they were too noisy?

The other request of having ambulances only respond when specifically requested is just unsafe for the community and for the fire department. The ambulance responds to every fire call, not necessarily because citizens might be injured by the fire but for the firefighters themselves who can get injured fighting fires. They head to ballgames, rodeos, demolition derbies to stand by in case of an emergency. That is a good thing for this community.

A walking path was also mentioned and something the commissioners are considering.

Through the courts, and public hearings neighbors have had a chance to voice concerns and while the commissioners are opting to honor the purchase agreement, they are working to be good neighbors in the area.

Cody Regional Health ambulance crews, by all accounts, have been good neighbors in Worland along Robertson Avenue and in Basin where they also have a station in a residential area.

While I appreciate the concerns expressed by the Krogers and Vanderwerff, my hope is that they welcome the Cody Regional Health ambulance crews into their neighborhood.

Now is not the time for the sentiment that Dick Kroger has been on record many times stating “they are not wanted.” Now is the time to welcome the ambulance crews as you would any neighbor to the area.

Those in the neighborhood who are concerned need to extend a welcoming hand to the crews and be good neighbors and I hope the crews will in turn extend a good neighbor handshake to them.

If the county, Cody Regional Health and the neighbors in the area of the 600 block of North Road 11 all work to be good neighbors, having the ambulance station there will be good for everyone.