The Mid-Mo Ambulance District Board of Directors was informed at the Wednesday, Nov. 12, meeting that three ambulances and crews are to assist with the move of St. Mary's Health Center patients from the old to the new medical facility in Jefferson City Sunday, Nov. 16.
Administrator Lee Kempf also informed the board that Mid-Mo was one of the ambulance services requested to respond to Ferguson, if needed. Two crews are on standby and could respond, if necessary.
Kempf also informed the board that the new ambulance will be in service the week of Nov. 17.
A tower located at Latham is soon to be owned by the ambulance district. It is owned by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), but is being abandoned by the agency. The regulations are that it can be sold to a public entity for its use, or torn down. Mid-Mo has agreed to purchase the tower to put the new communication system equipment on. There is quite a bit of equipment on the tower, but it is being removed as the tower is abandoned. The exception is the ambulance district's old repeater, which will remain mounted on the tower as a backup. Currently, a lease contract is being negotiated with the owners of the property.
In other business, the board approved several purchases. Eight Tough Books computers are being purchased from Planet Software. Because of the number being purchased, the vendor took an additional $800 off of the bid. The board also approved a bid for an advanced version of the reporting software from Image Trent. The district has the basic version offered by the state, which costs only for the licensing fee. The advanced version is $13,500 for the first year and after that $7,000 a year (based on an annual run volume of 3,500 calls).
Kempf has received applications to complete the connection with the natural gas line of Ameren Missouri. The process may take some time.
A bid was accepted for vinyl planking from Humphrey's Flooring, Tipton. It will be installed in the crew quarters at the Tipton base. The area is carpeted, and well past needing replacement. The same type of planking has worn very well at the Versailles base. The material cost is $977.23. Labor is estimated at $876 to allow for issues which may arise during the installation process.
The November report of the balance of funds on hand was $490,644.83. Secretary Brenda West presented the board with accounts considered uncollectable in the amount of $37,591.74, voting to write them off.
Run statistics for October were presented: Tipton - 47 calls with 27 transports; California - 65 calls, 43 transports; Versailles - 147 calls, 93 transports; and Barnett - 40 calls, 19 transports. Total calls districtwide were 288 with 182 transports, for a transport rate on patient contact calls of 70 percent.
The next meeting is Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at the district office in Tipton.