Discussions ranged from what fire vehicles are dispatched to the scene to whether to seek compensation from insurance companies or Dyersburg Regional Medical Center for the services provided by the Dyersburg Fire Department.

Noting rising fuel prices, alderman Shannon Walker opened the discussion by suggesting the city look into recouping some of the costs of responding to 911 calls.

"I don't want to remove the service, it is too valuable," said Walker. "I just wondered if we could ... charge the hospital for the calls we respond to or look into ambulances, (ourselves.)"

"We don't need to get into that business," said alderman Dennis Moody. "That's not our responsibility that they won't hire enough personnel."

"It's a great service," said alderman Bob Kirk. "You've got to make the determination of the level of service you provide."

"There are a lot of questions we need to ask ourselves when we start saying we are going to charge the hospital (for that service)," said Dyersburg Fire Chief Bob Veal. "If we have a fire and EMS calls and we can't go, are we going to be obligated when we start getting money?"

Collecting from private insurance companies was also suggested.

"We don't charge that because we are funded by the city," said Veal. "The county (volunteer) departments bill the insurance company $300. But our city attorney advised against that."

"To have a true First Responder Department, you are saying we need more people, more vehicles, more space," said Norman.

"Yes," said Veal.

Norman suggested sparing the large pumper truck for medical emergencies and only dispatching E-911 calls out of stations one or three.

"If we have a full arrest at Hillcrest, are we just going to sit there and (let someone farther away respond?)" asked Veal.

"It's hard to explain to John Q. Taxpayer that a pumper truck responds to Kroger for a woman who steps off the curb," said Norman.

"You can 'what if' something to death," said Veal. "If it's my mama that steps of the curb or my children locked in the car, I want the pumper truck to respond. Again, we go back to what do we want to do?"

"And what level of service do we want to provide?" asked Kirk.

"The police side of it is that we provide a service and we need to keep that service," said Ledbetter.

Norman made a motion that Holden make contact with the new CEO of Dyersburg Regional Medical Center to discuss reimbursement on a per call basis and if the city wants to be primary or secondary responder to medical emergencies. Kirk seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.