The organization of the volunteer fire department (PVFD) will be supervised in accordance with the personnel policies and any other applicable ordinance of the city. The department may adopt or change bylaws to govern its activities; however, in the event of conflict between these said bylaws and any city ordinance of the city, the said ordinance will overrule the bylaws and this article will be applicable.
(Ordinance 486 adopted 5/10/01; Ordinance 619 adopted 1/25/2024)
(a) 
The membership of the PVFD will consist of 20 members and a maximum of 36 members. These will constitute active membership.
(b) 
Each active member of the fire department will reside within the city unless the city council makes a special exception for an applicant. Applicants will be approved by the city manager.
(c) 
Each active member will be at least 18 years of age.
(d) 
A member of the PVFD who holds regular employment and performs work primarily at a location outside of a fifty (50) mile radius of the City of Panhandle will not hold any of the elected offices set forth in Section 9.303 of this article.
(Ordinance 486 adopted 5/10/01; Ordinance 619 adopted 1/25/2024)
(a) 
The position of fire chief is created. The fire chief shall be directly responsible to and a subordinate employee of the city manager. In accordance with article 9.100 of this code and the personnel policies of the city, the city manager shall appoint a qualified person to fill the position of fire chief, and if necessary, remove such person from the position. The fire chief shall fulfill the duties previously required of the PVFD fire chief and all duties assigned by the city manager, and shall receive as compensation such salary as may be fixed by the city council.
(b) 
The fire chief shall be the head of the PVFD.
(c) 
Any other officers of the PVFD will be elected from and by the active membership of the department, and will be subject to the approval of the city council. The officers that may be elected will be under the direction and control of the fire chief, in the following order of command: Assistant fire chief and captains. The PVFD may also elect members to serve in other offices for administrative purposes, but said offices will not be deemed to have command authority for the purposes of this article. The listed offices will be held by firefighters.
(Ordinance 486 adopted 5/10/01; Ordinance 598 adopted 12/17/2018)
(a) 
The members of the PVFD will hold at least two regular meetings for practice and training each month. There is hereby established an ambulance service within the city, which shall be known as Panhandle EMS.
(b) 
[Reserved.]
(c) 
In the event any active member fails to attend one of three consecutive meetings in their branch of service without being excused by the fire chief or assistant fire chief will be subject to suspension or termination from membership as provided in the City of Panhandle Personnel Policies.
(d) 
At least two meetings a year will be held for the purpose of training all personnel in the PVFD in the use of extrication tools and methods in the association of the rescue vehicle. Attendance of one of these meeting is required during a 24 month period. If a member fails to meet this requirement, he or she will be subject to suspension or termination from membership as provided in the City of Panhandle Personnel Policies.
(Ordinance 486 adopted 5/10/01; Ordinance 619 adopted 1/25/2024)
(a) 
Each volunteer fire department member with a bona fide attendance at a fire or rescue call will receive a sum of ten dollars ($10.00) per call, to be paid at the end of each calendar quarter.
(b) 
Each volunteer fire department member with a bona fide attendance at the regular monthly training meeting, either fire training or EMS training, will receive a sum of ten dollars ($10.00) per meeting. The amount paid to each member for bona fide attendance at meetings in any quarter will not exceed sixty dollars ($60.00). All continuing education training and certification training are exempt from this compensation schedule unless it is part of the regularly scheduled monthly meeting agenda.
(c) 
Each person that provides the service of driving the ambulance and is not a trained EMT will receive a sum of ten dollars ($10.00). This untrained driver is only able to provide this service based on the following conditions:
(1) 
A variance has been issued by the Texas Department of Health allowing the untrained person to drive the ambulance during the specified time on the variance; and
(2) 
If trained emergency personnel are unable to drive; or
(3) 
If the available trained personnel is needed to administer patient care to the patient.
(4) 
If it is determined by the city or fire department administration to be in the best interest of the city to allow untrained personnel to drive, thereby allowing available trained EMT personnel to remain in the city to respond in the event of another emergency call.
(5) 
The person assigned to driving the Ambulance must be approved as qualified by the mayor, city manager, chief of police, fire chief, assistant fire chief, EMS coordinator or emergency management coordinator.
(Ordinance 486 adopted 5/10/01)
The PVFD will be funded and operated through the general fund of the City of Panhandle, Texas. All revenue collected, except donations, will be deposited in the general fund of the City of Panhandle, Texas. A purchase order must be obtained from the city manager or the designated purchasing agent of the city before any expenditure from the general fund will be authorized. The fire chief or assistant fire chief will be the only person authorized to request a purchase order. Any member of the PVFD who obligates city funds without a purchase order signed by the city manager or the designated purchasing agent will be subject to disciplinary action and may be held personally responsible for the payment. The PVFD may be allowed to maintain separate fund(s) for its personal management. The city will remit to this fund the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00) per month for incidental expenses. This fund will be under the supervision of the fire chief. Only the fire chief may authorize expenditures from this fund. The PVFD will be allowed four fund raising projects each year, provided they have been approved by the city council.
(Ordinance 486 adopted 5/10/01)
The fire chief and subordinate officers will have superintendence, control and responsibility for the care and condition of all fire and ambulance apparatus and equipment. It is the duty of the fire chief to see that all such apparatus and equipment are ready at all times for immediate use. In the event of the emergency operations center being activated, the PVFD will serve under the direction of the emergency management plan adopted by the City of Panhandle.
(Ordinance 486 adopted 5/10/01)
The fire chief will furnish to the city manager, in time for the first regular meeting after the end of the month, a written report with the following information: number of fire calls during a month with pertinent information, number of ambulance calls during the month with pertinent information, new member applications, activity reports for each member of the PVFD reflecting attendance of meetings and their activity on calls.
(Ordinance 486 adopted 5/10/01)
(a) 
The city council of the City of Panhandle, Texas establishes this article as the schedule of fees to be charged by the PVFD for services rendered. The following fees and policies are established for providing ambulance service:
(1) 
The basic charge for ambulance service, whether emergency service or a transfer is $275.00 per call.
(2) 
The basic charge for ambulance service will also include a mileage charge from scene of the emergency or transfer to the destination and will be calculated at $3.00 per loaded (with a patient) mile.
(3) 
For calls originating outside of Carson County, $5.00 per mile will be added to the basic charge for emergency ambulance service or transfer service.
(4) 
Medical supplies will be billed based on the most recent purchase price of the item(s) supplied. Oxygen will be billed at a flat rate based on replacement cost.
(5) 
Equipment usage charges will be billed as follows:
(A) 
Orthopedic equipment: $10.00
(B) 
Cardiac Monitor: $30.00
(C) 
IV Therapy: $20.00
(D) 
Intubations Procedure: $20.00
(E) 
Pulse Ox meter: $30.00
(6) 
At the discretion of the city manager, the fees charged may be reduced or eliminated on a case by case basis as determined by the need of the patient or the circumstance or for the purposes of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
(7) 
Emergency medical service will be provided at no charge for the members of the PVFD.
(b) 
For firefighting services, the fees are based on individual contracts and agreements that are not contained in the article. There shall be firefighting services provided within the City of Panhandle are at no charge. The above listed fees may be changed from time to time by a resolution as needed in the future or by any contract the city may enter into with a particular party.
(Ordinance 486 adopted 5/10/01)
The fire chief will provide a copy of each report or call to the city manager for billing. The city manager will be responsible to cause all persons responsible for EMS or contracted fire suppression activities rendered to be billed for such services in a timely manner and will maintain records of said billing and the response to said billing.
(Ordinance 486 adopted 5/10/01)
All members of the PVFD may be covered by workers’ compensation insurance and liability insurance issued to the City of Panhandle.
(Ordinance 486 adopted 5/10/01)
(a) 
Upon immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle making use of audible and visible signals:
(1) 
The driver of every other vehicle will yield the right-of-way and will immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway of any intersection and will stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer.
(2) 
This section will not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway, not will such provisions protect the driver from the consequences of his or her reckless disregard for the safety of others.
(b) 
Every person convicted of a misdemeanor for a violation of this Sections will be punished by a fine in accordance with the general penalty provision in Section 1.109 of this code.
(Ordinance 486 adopted 5/10/01)
There is hereby established a volunteer ambulance service within the City of Panhandle, which shall be known as the Panhandle Volunteer Ambulance Service.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 1, Article 5, Sec. 1-48.1)
The organization of the volunteer ambulance service shall be supervised in accordance with the personnel policies and any other applicable ordinances of the City of Panhandle, Texas. The ambulance service may adopt bylaws to govern its activities; however, in the event of a conflict between these bylaws and any ordinance of the City of Panhandle, said ordinance shall be applicable.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 1, Article 5, Sec. 1-48.2)
[1]
Editor’s note–Former section pertaining to officers and deriving from 1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 1, Article 5, Sec. 1-48.3, was deleted its entirety by Ordinance 619 adopted 1/25/2024.
[1]
Editor’s note–Former section pertaining to meetings; compensation, was deleted in its entirety by Ordinance 619 adopted 1/25/2024. Prior to the deletion, this section derived from the following: (1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 1, Article 5, Sec. 1-48.4 and Ordinance 486 adopted 5/10/01.
The ambulance supervisor shall be under the supervision of the city manager and shall have superintendence and control over and be responsible for the care and condition of the ambulance apparatus and equipment, and it shall be his duty to see that all such apparatus and equipment shall be at all times ready for immediate use. A report to the city manager shall be submitted for presentation to the city council prior to the first regular city council meeting each month.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 1, Article 5, Sec. 1-48.5)
The ambulance supervisor shall keep in convenient form a complete record of all calls and charges made for such calls. Such information shall include the time and location of any call, action taken by the ambulance service, members present, the charge for said services and any other pertinent information regarding the call.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 1, Article 5, Sec. 1-48.6)
It will be the responsibility of the EMS director to see that runs are properly coded and sent to the billing company for proper billing to the insurance companies and the patient. Billing should be done in a timely manner and all records maintained.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 1, Article 5, Sec. 1-48.7; Ordinance 619 adopted 1/25/2024)
(a) 
The city council shall, by resolution, establish a schedule of fees to be charged by Panhandle EMS for services rendered.
(b) 
A copy of the current schedule is on file in the city offices and may be inspected during normal business hours.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 1, Article 5, Sec. 1-48.8; Ordinance 536 adopted 4/24/08; Ordinance 619 adopted 1/25/2024)
(a) 
Panhandle EMS shall be funded and operated through the general fund of the city. All revenue collected, except donations, shall be deposited into the general fund of the city.
(b) 
A purchase order must be obtained from city hall before any expenditure from the general fund shall be authorized. The EMS director or the assistant director shall be the only persons authorized to request a purchase order. Any member of Panhandle EMS who obligates the city without the properly signed purchase order shall be subject to disciplinary action, and may be held responsible for that payment.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 1, Article 5, Sec. 1-48.9; Ordinance 619 adopted 1/25/2024)
(a) 
Ambulance on emergency run shall be given and granted the exclusive right-of-way over and through all streets, avenues, alleys and public thoroughfares of the city and no person or persons shall in any manner obstruct or hinder said apparatus as aforesaid, provided said ambulance driver is making use of audible and visual signals meeting the requirements of law, ordinance or regulation. Violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine in accordance with the general penalty provision in Section 1.109 of this code.
(b) 
The foregoing provisions shall not relieve the driver of an ambulance from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor shall such provisions protect the driver from the consequences of his reckless disregard for the safety of others.
(1993 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 1, Article 5, Sec. 1-48.10)