By David A. Wilson
A Public Hearing to set the 2015 tax levy rate has been set for Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 6-7 p.m., at the Tipton district office The hearing will be followed by a special board meeting to officially set the rate. The hearing was set at the regular monthly meeting Wednesday, Aug. 12.
Administrator Lee Kempf updated the board on the proposed new California ambulance base, and the new UHF radio system.
Plans are for the new structure to be built on a lease-purchase basis, financed by US Bank. Kempf plans to have all the information available for the board at the September meeting, with bids specifications to be released soon.
The new UHF radio system was due to go on-line Friday, Aug. 14, with Kurt Bleich of Command 1 providing an in-service to the employees on the radio operations on Thursday, Aug. 13. In an additional announcement, the district will not be purchasing the old FAA tower at Latham. Dismantling of the tower is set to begin soon, possible the week of Aug. 17.
In other business, the board approved several items after review - increases in billing charges, employee's health insurance and purchase of a trailer for the Gator.
The billing increases approved by the board following the explanation by Kempf will go into effect Sept. 1. The increases reflect the increases in Medicare's reimbursement rates. Only emergency baserates will increase with BLS (Basic Lefe Support) and ALS (Advanced Life Support) up by $10. ALS2 (Advanced Life Support 2) increasing by $15. The charge per loaded mile will increase by 15 cents, bringing it from $7.25 to $7.40 per mile of loaded patient transport.
The district's employee health insurance will remain under United Healthcare, as approved by the board of directors, with a renewal increase of 9.11 percent. The decision was made following a presentation by Ronnie Staggs, Wallstreet Insurance Group, Jefferson City. He presented the current carrier information as well as several different options from United Healthcare, Anthem and Coventry. The vote was unanimous.
The board approved purchase of a trailer for the Gator recently purchased. Although the district had a trailer for the Ranger ATV, when there are games in both Morgan and Moniteau counties, both ATVs are needed and, of course, two trailers. The district will purchase a 77-inch by 12-foot single-axle trailer for $1,750 from PJ Trailers, Versailles.
The board also approved a Code of Ethics ordinance for the district. The ordinance needs to be reinstated every two years.
The July treasurer's report balance on hand was $479,943.33. In other business, Run statistics were: Tipton - 40 calls with 29 transports; California - 72 calls, 49 transports; Versailles - 156 calls, 102 transports; and Barnett - 44 calls, 33 transports. District wide, there were 312 calls with 213 transports for a transport rate of 75 percent on patient contact calls.
The next regular meeting is set for Sept. 9, at the Tipton district office.