Joseph Parnell McCarter, 6408 Wrenwood, Georgetown Township, volunteer leader of the “Save The Campbell” effort and now also encouraging the “Save The E-Unit” effort
Regarding emergency medical services, the Georgetown Board has communicated to the County Sheriff its desire for the E-Unit to continue, and the Sheriff’s Office has delayed its planned closure to May 2026. Now it is time for the citizens to move into action and strongly petition the County Sheriff. I am passing around sheets that I would ask citizens to sign and return to me.
The E-Unit has well served the community for over 50 years, providing 24-hour coverage with a state-certified paramedic E-Unit for medical emergencies. The additional cost to keep it operating is likely less than the cost of alternatives, plus with many advantages. The Sheriff’s Office should provide GT with a true and reasonable price tag to keep it going, so we can decide whether it is worth the cost, rather than just stopping the program. This is a life and death issue, and the E-Unit is likely the best solution.
Should the GT Board hold off the decision on a next best alternative to see if Sheriff DeBoer might reconsider in response to the petition not only of the GT Board but also of many GT citizens? The Board knows whether some delay in deciding may be prudent. I have worries that deciding the next best alternative too soon might divide us at a time when we need to be united in our petition to Sheriff DeBoer.
I would point out that this Georgetown Board, along with the Jamestown Board, have been at the forefront in the “Save The Campbell” effort. In its first round, they served as the leaders which encouraged other township boards, and then the County Board along with local legislators, who petitioned the Trump Administration, resulting in Campbell closure delay. Now they are leading in the 2nd round of Campbell Resolutions, to seek local control of the Campbell and electric via a county electric cooperative in order to thwart the terribly unrealistic Net Zero plan. Net Zero seeks to replace fossil fuel plants like the Campbell with solar/wind/battery for our baseload electric, which is a disastrous and costly experiment.
A county electric cooperative could even potentially help in the long-term provide more alternatives for water sourcing so as to introduce choice beyond Wyoming water. The electric grid, data centers, and water are all closely connected systems, such that a locally controlled electric cooperative may in the future offer water options that we have not had up to this point. It is why I hope we can get Water Resource Commissioner Joe Bush to be part of the exploratory committee. This GT Board had no reasonable alternative to Wyoming water and the price increase when it made its decision. I know people are upset about the recent water price rise, but the GT Board’s hands were tied for now that prices must be increasing. However, their “Save The Campbell” efforts may pave the way for long-term advantage not only of our electric grid, but also our water system.
So, in conclusion, I want to thank this GT Board for your leadership and service to the community.
Note: the website of the “Save The E-Unit” effort is at https://sites.google.com/view/save-the-e-unit/home