Pocahontas Ambulance Service Working To Increase South County Ambulance Coverage

At the February 3^rd Pocahontas County Commission meeting, Commission President John Rebinski and Ambulance Director Chris Lusk updated the scheduling of county ambulance coverage in the county.

They explained the ambulance service currently has 8 part-time EMT’s; 2 Part-time Paramedics; 1 full-time EMT; 2 full-time Paramedics, and 3 full-time drivers, which totals an estimated $425,400 in annual salaries. Currently the county ambulance covers northern county for 7 days a week, and they cover 4 nights a week in southern county. The volunteer ambulances and the PMH ambulance, when available, cover the other times.

At the February 3^rd Pocahontas County Commission meeting, Commission President John Rebinski and Ambulance Director Chris Lusk updated the scheduling of county ambulance coverage in the county.

They explained the ambulance service currently has 8 part-time EMT’s; 2 Part-time Paramedics; 1 full-time EMT; 2 full-time Paramedics, and 3 full-time drivers, which totals an estimated $425,400 in annual salaries. Currently the county ambulance covers northern county for 7 days a week, and they cover 4 nights a week in southern county. The volunteer ambulances and the PMH ambulance, when available, cover the other times.

Rebinski said their goal is to increase the coverage in the southern part of the county from 4 nights per week to 7 nights a week. But to be able to afford this expansion, Rebinski proposed that salary costs be included the county’s regular budget as a line Item and all other maintenance, operating and equipment expenses be paid for by EMS Ambulance Fund revenues. Currently the salaries are initially paid out of the county budget, but the EMS Ambulance Fund refunds the annual salary costs to the county at the end of each fiscal year in June.

After Lusk said they have not yet been able to figure out the exact estimate of the yearly costs and revenues because there is up to a 3 month delay to receive payments from patients or their insurance companies, Commissioners Thane Rider and Jamie Walker wanted to receive exact numbers on the costs of both the salaries and the operating expenses as well as the revenues before making that decision. Lusk agreed to provide accurate numbers on those from last October until March. The commissioners agreed to put off any final decision on this proposed change until they examine the updated figures during their budget preparation this spring.

They voted to hire Travis Cook as a part-time EMT for the ambulance service at $15.00 per hour starting on February 4^th. Cook will work in the south county area.

The commissioners also agreed to provide the $189,000 of American Rescue Plan money to the Northern Pocahontas Historical Society Association for the museum to be established in Durbin. About $151,502 of that will be needed by the closing sale date to pay for the building they are purchasing, and the remainder will be available to the historical society for repairs, renovations and other start-up costs. The commissioners are requiring that guarantees be placed on the deed that stipulate that the commission will be reimbursed their money if the building is ever sold by the historical society. These funds will be paid at closing on or before March 17^th.

They voted to pay Resolution #1 for the PMH Wastewater Treatment Plant Project in the amount of $85,000 for engineering services. Casandra Lawson of Region 4 said they need to quickly cut the trees on the property because Fish & Wildlife has advised them that there is a rare bat on the property that will be harmed if the trees are removed after February 28^th. They agreed to have this done as soon as possible but before the end of the month.

The held a very long discussion about how essential employees who have to work should be compensated when the courthouse is closed for inclement weather. Rebinski proposed they should be paid time-and-a-half for working those days, like they have already agreed to do with 911 dispatchers. However, the commissioners could not agree on how to do it, so no action was taken.

The commissioners agreed to pay ARC Broadband Grant Draw Request #24 in the amount of $4,000 to pay an engineering invoice. Region 4’s Casandra Lawson and Project Attorney Josh Jarrell also explained that they needed to pay a change order in the amount of $62,850 to enable their contractor-Quanta- to make the Mon-Power poles ready to receive their fiber. They have already paid Mon-Power for that to be done, but it was never done and this is necessary to move the project forward. They are still negotiating with Mon-Power to be refunded, but we cannot afford to wait for that to possibly happen. This money will be taken out of the state’s Contingency Fund money, and this will only leave $80,000 in that fund available. Lawson said “That is smaller than they typically would like to see” left in the fund. They voted to use the $62,850 to make the poles ready and move the project forward.

Additionally, the commissioners:

• Contributed $2,500 to the Northern Pocahontas County Community Assistance Inc., a non-profit that helps needy seniors and veterans in the county.
• Awarded the bid of Mitchell Chevrolet in the amount of $40,400, for the purchase of a 2026 Chevy Tahoe for Day Report to use.
• At the request of Scott Wheeler, they agreed to provide a letter of support for the celebration of the 70^th anniversary of the initial airing of the Lawrence Welk Show on July 1, 1955.
• Agreed to authorize payment of Resolution # 17 from the EPA Tannery Project in the amount of $21,372.98 for sediment and surface water sampling.
• Agreed to have roof repairs made tom the courthouse roof, which will have to be done before the roof is replaced.
• Adopted the County Clerk’s Emergency Absentee Voting Policy for the May 12^th Primary Election, which will enable pole workers to go to the hospital and the nursing home to collect votes from patients there who cannot get out to vote at the polls.
• Voted to allow Animal control to destroy old records dated before 2021.

But to be able to afford this expansion, Rebinski proposed that salary costs be included the county’s regular budget as a line Item and all other maintenance, operating and equipment expenses be paid for by EMS Ambulance Fund revenues. Currently the salaries are initially paid out of the county budget, but the EMS Ambulance Fund refunds the annual salary costs to the county at the end of each fiscal year in June.

After Lusk said they have not yet been able to figure out the exact estimate of the yearly costs and revenues because there is up to a 3 month delay to receive payments from patients or their insurance companies, Commissioners Thane Rider and Jamie Walker wanted to receive exact numbers on the costs of both the salaries and the operating expenses as well as the revenues before making that decision. Lusk agreed to provide accurate numbers on those from last October until March. The commissioners agreed to put off any final decision on this proposed change until they examine the updated figures during their budget preparation this spring.

They voted to hire Travis Cook as a part-time EMT for the ambulance service at $15.00 per hour starting on February 4^th. Cook will work in the south county area.

The commissioners also agreed to provide the $189,000 of American Rescue Plan money to the Northern Pocahontas Historical Society Association for the museum to be established in Durbin. About $151,502 of that will be needed by the closing sale date to pay for the building they are purchasing, and the remainder will be available to the historical society for repairs, renovations and other start-up costs. The commissioners are requiring that guarantees be placed on the deed that stipulate that the commission will be reimbursed their money if the building is ever sold by the historical society. These funds will be paid at closing on or before March 17^th.

They voted to pay Resolution #1 for the PMH Wastewater Treatment Plant Project in the amount of $85,000 for engineering services. Casandra Lawson of Region 4 said they need to quickly cut the trees on the property because Fish & Wildlife has advised them that there is a rare bat on the property that will be harmed if the trees are removed after February 28^th. They agreed to have this done as soon as possible but before the end of the month.

The held a very long discussion about how essential employees who have to work should be compensated when the courthouse is closed for inclement weather. Rebinski proposed they should be paid time-and-a-half for working those days, like they have already agreed to do with 911 dispatchers. However, the commissioners could not agree on how to do it, so no action was taken.

The commissioners agreed to pay ARC Broadband Grant Draw Request #24 in the amount of $4,000 to pay an engineering invoice. Region 4’s Casandra Lawson and Project Attorney Josh Jarrell also explained that they needed to pay a change order in the amount of $62,850 to enable their contractor-Quanta- to make the Mon-Power poles ready to receive their fiber. They have already paid Mon-Power for that to be done, but it was never done and this is necessary to move the project forward. They are still negotiating with Mon-Power to be refunded, but we cannot afford to wait for that to possibly happen. This money will be taken out of the state’s Contingency Fund money, and this will only leave $80,000 in that fund available. Lawson said “That is smaller than they typically would like to see” left in the fund. They voted to use the $62,850 to make the poles ready and move the project forward.

Additionally, the commissioners:

• Contributed $2,500 to the Northern Pocahontas County Community Assistance Inc., a non-profit that helps needy seniors and veterans in the county.
• Awarded the bid of Mitchell Chevrolet in the amount of $40,400, for the purchase of a 2026 Chevy Tahoe for Day Report to use.
• At the request of Scott Wheeler, they agreed to provide a letter of support for the celebration of the 70^th anniversary of the initial airing of the Lawrence Welk Show on July 1, 1955.
• Agreed to authorize payment of Resolution # 17 from the EPA Tannery Project in the amount of $21,372.98 for sediment and surface water sampling.
• Agreed to have roof repairs made tom the courthouse roof, which will have to be done before the roof is replaced.
• Adopted the County Clerk’s Emergency Absentee Voting Policy for the May 12^th Primary Election, which will enable pole workers to go to the hospital and the nursing home to collect votes from patients there who cannot get out to vote at the polls.
• Voted to allow Animal control to destroy old records dated before 2021.