Marion County ambulance district still awaiting CARES Act funding

Although they’ve submitted two requests for hazard pay reimbursement from the CARES Act funding, the Marion County Ambulance District is still waiting to receive any funds.

Chief John Nemes reported on the requests during last week’s district board meeting, at which the board also set the tax rate for 2020 and heard updates on the district’ AED program and new Braun ambulance.

According to Nemes, the second request was for $40,810.24 for additional hazard pay and overtime only for frontline employees in July.

“To date, we have submitted hazard pay requests totaling $121,343.24, but still have not received any funds from the Marion County CARES fund,” said Nemes, noting the Marion County Commission is responsible for disbursing those funds.

He further noted the ambulance district had removed the request for funding of a COVID-specific ambulance, so 100 percent of the request are “specifically for the employees who are out in the field and dealing directly with COVID-19 patients every single day.”

In new business, the board set the 2020 tax rate by rolling back the property tax to zero, noting they are now funded by sales tax.

They did set a rate of $.05  for the pension rate, which was unchanged from last year.

The board also learned another AED was recently placed in Marion County as Beau Viehmann of Gracie Barra, Hannibal, added one to his business.

This makes 24 AED units placed through the ambulance district’s program.

The board also learned the new Braun ambulance has been received and is in the process of getting the vinyl installed from Cool Touch Graphics.

“We had extra radios already set aside for this unit, so when it returns, A&W will install them,” Nemes reported.

In other business, Nemes said the Marion County ambulance had a presence for special events at the Marion County Fair, but did not set up the mobile medical truck or have additional personnel there due to COVID-19 concerns.

In his report, Nemes also said in the last 30 days, MCAD received 470 calls for emergency service.  

Base 1 (Hannibal) had 162 calls with six local/long distance transfers, 72 transports to Hannibal Regional, 15 transports to Blessing and 69 non-transport calls.  

Base 2 (Hannibal) had 164 calls with 73 transports to Hannibal Regional, seven transports to Blessing, 13 local/long distance transfers and 71 non-transport calls.  

Base 3 (Palmyra) had 74 calls with 23 transports to Hannibal Regional, 12 transports to Blessing, 11 local/long distance transfers and 28 non-transport calls.  

The 12-hour reserve unit had 51 calls, of which 39 were long-distance transfers, 10 emergency transports to Hannibal Regional and two to Blessing.  

The Cardinal Glennon unit has had 17 transports.

The next meeting will be Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. via Zoom.