By John Chambless
Staff Writer

On May 15, the Franklin Township Board of Supervisors heard an update on the service provided to the township by Medic 94.

Bob Hotchkiss, CEO of Medic 94, said the organization was founded 36 years ago, and he has been with them for 34 years. Medic 94 partners with West Grove Fire Company, Oxford Fire Company, Avondale Fire Company and Christiana Fire Company. When a call comes in for an ambulance, about half of the calls require paramedics. Hotchkiss said that Medic 94 is like an emergency room on wheels. They can make a diagnosis and begin treatment immediately, but an ambulance can only make the victim comfortable on their way to the hospital.

Medic 94 is based out of Jennersville Hospital, but not employed by them. Hotchkiss said they have a very positive working relationship with the new owners of the hospital.

Funding for Medic 94 remains an issue. Half of the people served are on Medicare/Medicaid, which pays back a very small amount for transport and care. Some insurance companies reimburse patients for the transport and care, but the patients sometimes don’t realize they should send the check to Medic 94, and instead keep the money.

One-third of the funding for Medic 94 comes from municipalities and the rest comes from fundraising. Over the summer, Hotchkiss said he will be meeting with representatives from the municipalities they serve to come up with a fairer method of funding.

In answer to a question about Narcan, Hotchkiss said overdoses and administration of Narcan are up 40 percent this year. In an effort to do more than save the person who overdoses and let them go, Medic 94 and other organizations are using what Reading Hospital calls the “turkey sandwich strategy.” When a victim overdoses and recovers with the aid of Narcan, rather than sending them on their way, emergency personnel offer them a turkey sandwich and a soda. While the patient is waiting for that, counselors have time to visit with them and try to get them to go to rehab.

In other business, the board authorized the Township Manager to move forward with the 2019 road program. The roads the township will work on this year are Walker Road, South Guernsey Road and Peacedale Road, with the possibility of adding Church Hill Road if funding becomes available.

In a discussion of zoning problems, the township is still waiting for the Court of Common Pleas to make a ruling regarding the abandoned home at 3327 Appleton Road in the Historic District. The entire report can be reviewed on the township website (www.franklintownship.us).

HARB and Historical Commission chairman Paul Lagasse said there is a link on the township’s Historical Commission page to the new Historical Commission website, which has many historical maps, old postcards and articles from old newsletters. Lagasse said he hasn’t made any progress on finding ownership of the abandoned Church Hill cemetery, but that he is working on a plan to pursue more information.

On May 29, the Oxford Area Historical Society is presenting a program with the Oxford Area School District entitled “On the Homefront – Tales of the Revolutionary War,” told by Susannah Brody, a Revolutionary War storyteller. The program will be held at the Penn’s Grove Elementary School (301 S. Fifth St., Oxford), and begins at 7 p.m.

Supervisor Nancy Morris noted that she was approached by a resident interested in installing a solar farm on his property. She asked the other board members their opinions on solar farms. Township Manager Joan McVaugh said that if a solar farmer sells electricity to PECO, then they are running a commercial business, which would require a different permit process than an individual who uses the electricity strictly for themselves. Morris said she will have the resident contact the township zoning official, Jeff Vogels.

Supervisor Steffan Torres asked if any progress has been made on the list of park improvements. With the money available this year, replacing the bathrooms is the priority.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email [email protected].