BENTONVILLE -- Benton County justices of the peace said Jan. 14 they'll wait for the vote of the people before making decisions on rural ambulance service.

The county has no plan in place to pay for rural ambulance service if voters reject a proposed Emergency Medical Services District and $85 per household fee for the service. The district and fee are set for a vote Feb. 11 after opponents gathered enough signatures to force a referendum.

Kurt Moore, justice of the peace for District 13, suggested at last week's meeting of the Finance Committee the justices of the peace consider a resolution saying if the plan is rejected the county will not pay for ambulance service beyond March. The resolution was defeated last Tuesday with six justices of the peace -- Moore, Jay Harrison, Kevin Harrison, Shirley Sandlin, Steve Curry, and Patrick Carr -- voting for it and eight -- Mike McKenzie, Rey Hernandez, Tom Allen, Pat Adams, Joel Jones, Michelle Chiocco, Brent Meyers and Barry Moehring voting against it.

The Quorum Court created the district and fee for households outside cities and not in the Northeast Benton County Emergency Medical Service District. The fee would be included on property tax statements.