High mileage on the ambulances, paramedic training and the new California Mid-Mo Ambulance base were discussed by the Board of Directors at its recent meeting.
The amount of mileage on the Mid-Mo Ambulance fleet is of concern, Administrator Lee Kempf told the board at its Dec. 14 meeting at the district office in Tipton. He suggested the most economical way to bring the fleet up to what it needs to be is to remount several of the ambulance body units on new chassis.
Blake Clifton, of ARV, had three 2016 chassis available. Kemp reported that Unit 2 could be remounted after the first of the year. He would like to have Unit 6 and Unit 8 remounted in about the next 15 months. This would bring the district into better shape with three ambulances of much less mileage. The total bid for remounting all three ambulances was $334,438. Remounting, rather than purchasing new ambulances, is a considerable savings, possibly up to $90,000 per unit.
In other business, Kempf updated the board on efforts to improve paramedic training in an effort to attract paramedics within the district and allow current EMT employees to advance. He met with representatives of Rolla Technical Institute about its paramedic program. Kempf and Supervisor Jason Elliott said they were impressed with the program and the way the classes are structured. The total cost of the program is $9,624.29, more expensive than classes at other places, he said. But once books and other needed classes are added, the costs are not that much different, he said.
At this time, the district reimburses $4,000 once the student is a paramedic. The reimbursement is quarterly over a two-year period. Kempf would like to partner with Rolla Tech for future paramedic education. He would also like to consider paying all the tuition over a three-year time period for those in full-time positions. The board agreed to have Kempf pursue the possibility of working with Rolla Tech and to write a policy for the board to consider about tuition.
The update was given on the new ambulance base at California. The gas lines have been run and the sewer should be hooked up soon. Due to some problems with the floor finish, the floors are being sanded down and the finish re-applied.
The board approved the purchase of one ROSC-U Mechanical CPR Device from BoundTree for $9,990. Before the vote of approval, Kempf discussed the Auto Pulse boards currently in use by the district. He said they are probably the best automated CPR device built. But, all of the failures experienced with them, for a variety of reasons, cause Kempf to believe they don't hold up well in the field. He wants to try the ROSC-U device to see if it would be better.
Kempf informed the board that the trim is up, the doors have been hung and the floors have been finished, except they need to cure. The natural gas and sewer lines still need to be installed. A problem with the brick around the electric lines is being fixed.
The employee parking was also discussed. The original plan was to have a gravel area for employee parking. Kempf told the board he thought this was a mistake. After he informed the board that an additional $6,500 would take care of a concrete parking area tied in with the apron in front of the garage, and included with the heating pad, a motion was made and the board approved the additional work. It will be paid for outright by the district.
In other business, the November treasurer's report balance on hand was $578,386.47. Run statistics for November were: Tipton - 50 calls with 28 transports; California - 64 calls, 36 transports; Versailles - 176 calls, 125 transports. Districtwide, there were 290 calls with 189 transports for a transport rate on patient contact calls of 72.8 percent. The next regular meeting is set for Jan. 11 at the Tipton district office.