Cascade Medical levy passes

    Some of us have been eyeing the month of February on the calendar excitedly for Valentine's Day, but Cascade Medical Center has been anxious about the Feb. 12 ballot and the outcome for the Cascade Medical Emergency Medical Service levy. And just like that co-worker who received a dozen roses and chocolate, the Cascade Medical Center wasn't disappointed. With 79.9% voting yes, the levy passed.
    "This is 100% dedicated to operations and maintenance of our ambulance department and emergency service department." said Rachel Hansen, Cascade Medical Public Relations Coordinator. "The cost to run a 24/7 emergency center with ambulance services, the costs are high and it's not self-sustaining. But it's important that we remain ready for our community, all hours of the night, weekends, no matter what."
    In 2012, the levy passed with 82%, but given the bleak weather circumstance, it wasn't a expected slam dunk for the levy to pass with a similar high percentage.
    "I didn't know what to expect. We had three winter storms hit in four days leading up to the vote," said Hansen. "I was surprised with the results frankly."
    With the bad weather, casting a vote could've been at the back of the community's mind as they scraped ice off windshields and shoveled driveways - but the abundance of snow falling didn't seem to impact the vote negatively at all.
    "To see our community come through the way that they did, I've never been more proud of this community," said Hansen. "I was absolutely awestruck with 80%."
    The operations and maintenance of the emergency services are both used and essentially funded by the members of the community. To see that the needed support hasn't wavered, not only benefitted Cascade Medical, but those who use the Cascade Medical services.
    "We are so grateful to serve this community, it's really thanks to them that our ambulances and our emergency department will always be ready. We are community owned and we're just so grateful that they are supportive of continuing these services. That support is really vital to keeping them going," said Hansen.