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Resident who nearly died urges council to fix wellness checks, ADA projects before expanding EMS
Summary
Rick Henderson told the council he suffered weeks of unconsciousness and months in a coma after a 2021 welfare check; he urged the city to publish a written wellness-check policy, complete ADA upgrades to a park and strengthen vetting for public-safety hires before adding EMS services.
Rick Henderson, who identified himself as a Gunter resident, told the council his 2021 welfare check resulted in severe medical consequences and remains a reason he questions the city's readiness to add EMS responsibilities.
"I remained unconscious for days. By the time I was finally found, I was in septic shock and suffered from necrotizing fasciitis. I spent months in a coma, underwent 27 surgeries, and now live with permanent disabilities," Henderson said in public comment. He described the broad impact on his family and urged the council not to expand emergency medical services until the city demonstrates better accountability and completes promised accessibility upgrades.
Henderson said a written wellness-check policy promised two or three years earlier has not been published or implemented to his knowledge and asked that hiring for public-safety leaders include thorough background investigations with supervisory references. He also reiterated residents’ longstanding complaints about potholes and damaged signs and asked the city to fulfill earlier promises such as making the city park ADA compliant.
Why it matters: Henderson's testimony frames public trust in local safety services and calls for concrete administrative steps — a published wellness-check policy, ADA work, and tightened vetting — before the council considers expanding EMS responsibilities.
