ASK THE MAYOR
Volunteers, emergency services help make El Campo great
MAYOR PHILLIP SPENRATH

One of the first things we teach our children is "who to call" and "how to react" when an emergency takes place. Most of us have implemented our own home version of fire drills and what to do if a stranger stops in front of our house.

Along with these important preventive safety measures, we also teach our children the importance of listening to and respecting our local firemen, EMS, and police officers. El Campo is truly blessed to be served by such hardworking, understanding and well-trained emergency professionals.

Earlier this week, your city council began reviewing the final architectural plans and renovation designs that will soon be applied to our local emergency services buildings. Contractors are preparing to re-roof both the police station and the main parking bays of the fire department building. In addition, plans have been drawn to expand the police department's communications room so that all of our critical emergency electronic equipment can be confined in one safe location. Renovations will also include additional investigative and retention working areas.

Last Monday evening, hundreds of El Campo citizens were treated to some of the world's finest oysters and catfish fillets as the El Campo Volunteer Fire Department hosted its Annual Appreciation Supper.

It was an honor and privilege to come out and visit with, and offer support and thanks to, our many incredible local firefighters and other emergency personnel. For over 100 years, El Campo has continuously been protected by our fire department's dedicated volunteers who have repeatedly placed themselves in harms way in order to save our families and preserve our possessions.

In addition to food and fellowship, ECVFD supporters were also provided an opportunity to inspect our new Velocity custom triple-combination pumper and our fire chief's new SUV command vehicle.

Both of these vehicles will significantly increase our firefighters' ability to arrive at a fire safer and faster. The pumper's compressed air foam system provides for lighter weight hoses and a spraying system that can shoot powerful blasts higher and farther than our existing units.

Continuing our look at El Campo's emergency readiness, I also recently participated in a research and planning consultation with board members of our local El Campo Memorial Hospital. During our session, we discussed local community perceptions and set goals for improving services and treatments being offered at ECMH.

El Campo Memorial Hospital offers our citizens many incredible opportunities that promote growth, education, economic development and well-being. ECMH currently provides emergency services, planned surgical procedures and family clinic visits.

In addition, our ECMH has taken a pro-active stance in helping to promote and finance the education of area graduates who feel called to pursue a career in one of the medical professions.

During our meeting, hospital and community members expressed a desire to seek future renovations and upgrades to our emergency room, hospital patient rooms and expand the areas of medical specialties being treated by our medical staff.

While many cities lack local hospital protection, El Campo has truly been blessed with its physicians and medical teams waiting at the ready to set our broken bones, conduct emergency operations and perform wellness exams.

El Campo is an outstanding community where families help families regardless if it's sharing the costs of road improvements or sending Boy Scouts to camp.

Most of our neighbors gladly offer their support without concern about how it personally affects them as individuals.

To all of our emergency responders, thank you for all of the countless hours of service that you have shared in helping make El Campo a great place to call home.

- Comments may be addressed to askthemayor@sbcglobal.net.