Ambulance district sets tax rate

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The Marion County Ambulance District Board of Directors set their two tax rates and learned the district took possession of a remounted truck this week while other trucks are still in limbo.

In setting the tax rate, the board took the recommendation of Chief John Nemes to lower the operation portion of the proposed tax rate be reuced from .229 cents per $100 of assessed valuation to zero.  

After the public hearing and no further comment, the property tax was rolled back to zero by the board unanimously. 

On the pension tax rate, Nemes said that rate was capped at .0477 cents per $100 by the state and he recommended the board approve the tax as presented for 2023. Again the  motion was approved unanimously.

In his report, Nemes said the district took possession of the remounted ambulance unit last Sunday at Braun Industries.

The next remount unit was taken to Ohio on July 21, when the new truck was picked up. While the net remount is expected to be completed in a couple of months, Nemes noted there is still no word or anticipated delivery date on the factory release of the other three chassis.

Nemes also said the Liberty truck purchased in July is almost ready to go, and is at CoolTouch getting the graphics installed

However CoolTouch ran out of material and there are a few days of delay in completing the work, Nemes added. 

Once the Liberty truck is finished, Nemes said the Promaster van will be going in for graphics. Both trucks will be ready for service as soon as they are wrapped.

In other business, Nemes reported the district had received a couple of complaints over the past two months, and those had been followed up.

Both cases were situations where families did not understand EMS operation or law, and once that was explained to them, both parties were satisfied.

“No further complaints were voiced, and there were no patient care issues,” he said.

Nemes said he also received multiple patient surveys that were 100 percent positive, and had received several personal calls from patients regarding the amazing care they received from our crews. 

“This speaks volumes about the caliber of providers the district has and everyone is very proud of that,” Nemes said, noting he has passed it on to the employees so they know how much the district, and the community as a whole, appreciates their hard work, care and compassion.

Also under his report, Nemes said preparations are continuing for the closing of the Third Street viaduct when construction begins at the end of the year in Hannibal. MoDOT is estimating the viaduct will be shut down for 130 calendar days from Dec. 12, 2022 to Sept. 12, 2023.

During that time, Nemes said public service agencies will have to use alternate routes to access the south side of Hannibal and all agencies affected are currently working together to look at options and “what if” scenarios to pre-plan for any delays in response time. 

“Any flooding in the area during construction will drastically change response times,” he said. “The district will be preparing for the worst case scenario.”

Nemes also reported he is working on a grant to get a Stryker Power Load system installed in the district’s new van.

If approved the grant, which is through the work comp carrier, would pay for $10,000 of the Power Load systems, $26,000 cost.

In regards to the ground ambulance re-licensure, Nemes said he and Chief Medical Officer John Clemens are finishing the final submissions for both Marion and Ralls County, and they plan to schedule the inspection this week.

The district is still working on the consolidated insurance program and the initial estimates were encouraging, Nemes said, although they are looking for a better prescription benefit option, however.

In new business, Nemes reported the annual audit by Wade Stables was completed with no new recommendations.

Nemes also reported MCAD answered 600 calls for emergency service in July.  Base 1 (Hannibal) – 2711 handled 170 calls, 2721 handled 109 calls, Base 2 (Hannibal) handled 206 calls, Base 3 (Palmyra) handled 96 calls, and there were 19 off-duty transfers plus multiple stand-by events. 

 The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m., via Zoom.