It is a question of wanting more options as far as the future of SEOEMS is concerned.

That’s why the Lawrence County Commissioners decided to ask the ad hoc contingency committee to come up with additional suggestions for countywide ambulance service.

That action was taken during the commissioners’ regularly scheduled Thursday meeting.

“It is time for us to take control of our destiny,” Commissioner Les Boggs said after the meeting. “I would prefer for them to bring back at least one more option or two more options. If I am going to make a decision about the protection of our county through the Emergency Medical Services, I want to look at all options before I make a decision.”

The ad hoc committee was formed at the time Athens County Commissioners decided to leave the three-county ambulance service district. Shortly after Athens’ decision, Jackson County Commissioners followed suit.

However Jackson left the door open as far as staying in SEOEMS by saying if the economic climate of the district improved, that county might remain.

The district, which was begun in the 1970s, had struggled financially for months with the three counties this summer advancing a total of $385,000 to cover pension plans, health insurance and payroll.

A number of accounting and management changes were instituted including improving accounts receivable collection.

Earlier this month the contingency committee came up with three options for SEOEMS: Maintain the tri-county district and add new members; maintain SEOEMS in a different configuration; or allow each county to start its own emergency service.

“SEOEMS is a good organization. We are committed to keep the district together if that is the best for Lawrence County,” Bruce Trent, head of the committee, said at the time of its report.

“I don’t think we can wait on the other counties to make a decision,” Boggs said.

The commissioner also gave a report on the prescription discount card program that was started a year ago.

There were 719 prescriptions filled by using the card giving the 314 individuals who participated in the plan a savings of 27.98 percent. That translated to a total dollar savings of $8,929.40.

Anyone in the county can pick up a card from the commission office, the library branches or pharmacies in the county.

“Statistics show you get a discount 86 percent of the time,” Boggs said.

The commissioners are also going to give the discount card to the SEOEMS drivers to help those clients who are without insurance.

Commissioners also received an update on the County Road 29 bridge at Lake Vesusvius that was washed out during the recent flooding.

The Federal Highway Administration is to replace the bridge, first with a temporary structure followed by a permanent bridge.

The preliminary plans for the temporary bridge have just been completed with a target date for structure to be up by fall of this year.