[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6181331,"mediaKeyId","5113351-cb91d788ac2cc802ec74038c744a449c","parentId",5113351,"title","Van Zandt County leaders press EMS contractor on slow response times, demand ambulance posted in Precinct 2","audioSeconds",327,"startMs",2891190,"endMs",3218320,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113351-cb91d788ac2cc802ec74038c744a449c&start=2891&end=3218","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113351-cb91d788ac2cc802ec74038c744a449c/thumbnail_2891190.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6181331/Van-Zandt-County/Texas/Van-Zandt-County-leaders-press-EMS-contractor-on-slow-response-times-demand-ambulance-posted-in-Precinct-2","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181331-d93daeb6b9c228cfccfa56cb26c81fc3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160837&Signature=UhfOSuasgVtBwYwhd55z8jffO--OAcMK5FWvfe2mThEB4mgELmwYnrpStsf~WFHCm692rH3O5Nv2fKe08JhZc0P0zVaX9PQ5r7ycmK3P2VG9R-94IJGin0kBkUQAEwmRCQDRgrVHNC6lPdqI-6VLRdWsI~vwgs-W0ErUko-ILglLRzH3964SQwHwoD12vJiR0YqruPI73XAcprhxIUu~FZAQGHfAA7ZV27jhKxi3fvbf6Qkq8nPQqrbmCr3d11IH471QxC~nsChosE3vIoqpoW05EoqftcM23gtdQDNGMCP6vmczXa0pyHQsFS~bUVNUrD72ApUbT4TlqK88WJlhjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Van Zandt County TX","date","2025-07-02T04:05:59.737Z","article","Van Zandt County commissioners on July 1 pressed their contracted ambulance provider over response times and the absence of a contractually required ambulance in Precinct 2, a rural area commissioners said has been without a posted unit since the 2019 contract.

The issue matters because the county contract requires 90% of life‑threatening 911 responses to be within 14 minutes, 59 seconds; commissioners presented May 2025 performance data showing the county’s 90th‑percentile response was about 22 minutes and 23 seconds. That, a commissioner said, “is not in compliance with the contract under any circumstance.”

County officials spent more than an hour on the matter in a public workshop, hearing testimony from volunteer firefighters and from CHRISTUS Emergency Management Services officials. Dwayne Collins, a volunteer firefighter and member of the county committee that evaluated providers, said the service “appears to be lacking in meeting their obligations” and asked why CHRISTUS representatives were not previously present to answer questions.

CHRISTUS chief administrative officer Sean Salter told the court he would have an ambulance posted in Precinct 2 within five business days. “We will have an ambulance in Precinct 2,” Salter said, “I can assure you that I'll have that done within 5 business days.” Salter said CHRISTUS had been reviewing heat‑map data to pick an optimal site and had discussed possible locations and construction contributions with local landowners.

County staff and volunteer firefighters described specific incidents where mutual‑aid resources were used and where an ambulance arrived well after one hour; one incident narrative read to the court said an ambulance arrived “without lights, without siren, an hour late.” County staff displayed contract language saying paragraph 4 requires ambulances in specified locations and paragraph 9.2 defines breaches tied to response‑time failures: failure to meet the response standard for three consecutive months or for any four months in a calendar year may be a major breach.

County attorney‑style comments to the court (legal counsel advised the court) said the contract allows notice and, if deficiencies persist, termination for cause. The attorney present recommended notifying the cities that participate under the same timing cycle, and suggested the court could issue formal breach notice if performance did not improve. The court did not vote to terminate the contract at the meeting.

In response to firefighters’ demands, CHRISTUS representatives said they use system‑status management and mutual aid, shifting trucks across a regional footprint; a UTHealth EMS representative at the meeting described the same mutual‑aid approach and said the priority is getting the fastest available unit to the patient, regardless of provider.

The court directed staff to continue compiling performance records and advised the county to give CHRISTUS an opportunity to remedy the deficiencies while preparing to pursue alternatives if the contractor failed to comply. CHRISTUS agreed to provide a manual, record‑level report and to post an ambulance in Precinct 2 within five business days. Commissioners also discussed sending a formal notice of breach, notifying involved cities, and scheduling a follow‑up workshop. The court left open the possibility of formal notice or termination if requirements are not met.

County officials said they would circulate the performance records CHRISTUS committed to provide and would notify cities tied to the county contract. Volunteer fire officials said rural response levels and mutual‑aid usage have steadily increased and that posted ambulances in Precinct 2 would reduce pressure on volunteers.

The court scheduled further review rather than taking immediate termination action; commissioners said the county will monitor CHRISTUS’s promised fixes and consider issuing formal notice if deadlines are missed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Van Zandt Commissioners Regular Meeting 7/1/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Van Zandt County commissioners on July 1 pressed their contracted ambulance provider over response times and the absence of a contractually required ambulance in Precinct 2, a rural area commissioners said has been without a posted unit since the 2019 contract.","taxTitle","Van Zandt County, Texas","taxId",63777,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6181322,"Commissioners schedule public hearing to update salvage, wrecking and junkyard ordinance",247,728000,975520,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113351-cb91d788ac2cc802ec74038c744a449c&start=728&end=975","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113351-cb91d788ac2cc802ec74038c744a449c/thumbnail_728000.jpg","/articles/6181322/Van-Zandt-County/Texas/Commissioners-schedule-public-hearing-to-update-salvage-wrecking-and-junkyard-ordinance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181322-31081f9298645fdc00eede24c2c9a82c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160837&Signature=iHI9dSzBJYReBEPR5kSPOlmQn5i0Z~ga4-WAWrVHi1rL0Y9KZMrKbyms3UT5App7HEC042EOiHeoqWW72lN4~sUiZaKVaY6FgvGWdS3oYyMoeFc-NMEX~~P5Iwty4pgnGijKhujS2IAMIzKIvjnGNSAAPSqiSnrQe7RPX5Yk-43pG71jXPmpRl-xIl3fWrW5fNZGlrvMVgURCJ-a2lcjVPB7VNHyJ8zyDs7BUe5ioHK-S6yErsBIngnb4E4BC9ySDvbDz4RevkVBU6giVcizfNfWF12MmsBGqIfPaZtG10GeBus~ObwfMEEo3u07R4rcU64qL9fBEDvA--MtkjMu~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Van Zandt County commissioners voted to move forward with a public‑hearing process to update the county’s salvage, wrecking and junkyard ordinance, the court announced at its July 1 meeting.

A county staff member explained the proposal is technically an amendment but recommended treating it as a new ordinance for posting and public‑hearing purposes because the rewrite incorporates multiple administrative code references. The changes would shift permitting and much of the administrative work to the county fire marshal’s office, require new salvage yards to be fully enclosed with no structures or material taller than eight feet, and impose a mailed‑notice requirement to nearby schools, churches and residents when a new operator applies for a permit.

The proposed amendment would create a single application document designed to collect all required approvals, reducing the need for applicants to search multiple code books. The presenter said the amendment would remove some responsibilities from current staff (naming Keegan) by routing initial applications and enforcement through the fire marshal’s office. The presenter also clarified scrap yards are distinct from the salvage/wrecking rules and are not covered by the proposed ordinance; scrap yards commonly stack material higher than eight feet and were explicitly excluded.

The court moved to post the proposed rules and to schedule public hearings; commissioners approved the motion unanimously. County staff said the hearing would follow the county’s public‑notice requirements (the presenter said posting for 10 days was expected) and that comments would be accepted at the hearing and the commissioners’ court would make the final decision on permits and any new salvage yards.

No ordinance text was adopted at the meeting; the court approved the posting and the public‑hearing process so residents and stakeholders can review and comment before adoption.","The court voted to post and schedule public hearings on revisions to the county's salvage/wrecking/junkyard ordinance that would move permitting to the fire marshal, require enclosed sites with 8‑foot height limits and mandate mailed notice to nearby schools, churches and residents for new permits.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6181327,"Lawyers advise Van Zandt County to use platting, water plans and incentives to shape growth",1637,984610,2622090,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113351-cb91d788ac2cc802ec74038c744a449c&start=984&end=2622","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113351-cb91d788ac2cc802ec74038c744a449c/thumbnail_984610.jpg","/articles/6181327/Van-Zandt-County/Texas/Lawyers-advise-Van-Zandt-County-to-use-platting-water-plans-and-incentives-to-shape-growth","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6181327-20c957b89b45e5edb0a5bebc14c73fbe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771160837&Signature=Fjn915b2yKMZa54pnCWD5Ce2VNNYzCldVOboamdZiv3ekNM~lhcLeIY3wRN6-2d3Novy-73nbYFEM1azjxGUtoICpFgJQQGPSirIM8WZp7m2vcBFvc0ty3xv-3RAOOzFc3ejd6W3fppw52qKVNKO3~SYdhCQWLa6bNX2zmgnJ44lU~NMRZHtaZxMReMLFa7IHGdyjAPx1CX0W5QGyBCqB19Bbr6EyvNu-yKThjLO75BillWENe7FP7JRSRbK-EJ5eOjScZkZYij0I9Ir6~N3jRldRCOkRnl8XIsmURls2w-4bTLkrG0eLBk8pOaNG6wRSdNbqsJhFORLCDNdfLtsBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Van Zandt County held a workshop on zoning, subdivisions and rental properties on July 1, where outside counsel urged a proactive county strategy to manage fast growth and build‑to‑rent development.

The court invited local attorneys to explain tools counties have to shape development in unincorporated areas. Scott Gray and Robert Rodriguez of the invited law practice told the court Van Zandt is the fastest‑growing county in the state for its region and that counties can exert control through platting requirements, water‑service planning, and minimum lot sizes. “You have the most control of areas within your city,” one presenter said, recommending county water‑plan overlays and targeted incentives to attract desirable developers.

Presenters described a set of common problems the county is seeing in nearby areas: master‑planned developments funded through municipal utility districts (MUDs), which can carry long‑term bonds that make future annexation difficult; build‑to‑rent communities run by large institutional investors; and subdivisions that rely on private treatment systems or small water districts. The presenters said those patterns can strain county services and school districts by increasing rooftops without a balanced commercial tax base.

The attorneys explained the interplay of extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), municipal annexation law and the Texas Government Code. They warned that recent legislative changes make it easier for properties to escape ETJ control and that annexation has become legally and politically difficult in many places. They recommended early planning, mapping likely development parcels along highways, and using platting/lot‑size rules to steer development types. County staff noted Van Zandt’s one‑acre minimum lot size for unincorporated areas, enforced by agreement with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), may already make large‑scale rental projects less economical unless developers use half‑acre allowances (which Kaufman County permits by agreement with TCEQ).

Speakers urged voluntary annexation and development agreements as tools where immediate mandatory annexation is not feasible. One presenter described successful examples in neighboring counties that annexed highway intersections to control corridor development and said developers sometimes voluntarily annex to access city sewer and water rather than use MUD bonds. The court discussed the idea of creating municipal entities from unincorporated precincts to increase local control, but presenters noted political and logistical hurdles for that route.

Commissioners asked for staff to share current subdivision rules and to work with the law firm on a proactive strategy. County staff said they will provide the rules and meet with the presenters to develop recommendations. No formal vote or ordinance change was taken at the meeting; the workshop concluded with a request that commissioners participate in follow‑up planning.","Outside counsel told the commissioners the county can influence build‑to‑rent growth through subdivision rules, water planning, platting controls and voluntary annexation; presenters warned about MUD bonds, annexation limits and infrastructure costs tied to rapid suburban growth.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Van Zandt County leaders press EMS contractor on slow response times, demand ambulance posted in Precinct 2

Commissioners schedule public hearing to update salvage, wrecking and junkyard ordinance

Lawyers advise Van Zandt County to use platting, water plans and incentives to shape growth