By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette
During the regular Oct. 15 meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, citizens asked for clarification about EMS funding. One question was related to the service billing individuals’ insurance for EMS costs related to ambulance calls. Supervisor Steve Smith explained the EMS service will bill insurance as applicable.
Supervisor Maggie Armstrong added that there are some costs, especially some staffing costs, that cannot be billed to insurance.
“If you have a day where you don’t have a call to go out on, to be billed, you still have to staff people 24/7, so that is an expense,” Armstrong said.
Later in the meeting, Supervisor Mike Dickson asked about apparent changes made during and following the recent EMS informational meeting in Bayard.
“It’s been stated there was a meeting in Bayard, and then Steve (Smith) and Maggie (Armstrong) went to Coon Rapids and talked to Carroll County and are changing things,” Dickson said.
“So, all we did was we heard from the people in Bayard, and in Orange Township, and we took that into consideration, and we wanted to find out if there was an opportunity for the coverage that they wanted to stay the same. So that’s why we had the conversation with Carroll County,” Armstrong said. “And then we brought it back to the (supervisors) meeting that following Tuesday.”
Armstrong said when this was discussed with the full board, there was no objection.
“I thought this was a board plan,” Dickson said.
Smith and Armstrong explained that no changes have been made, but Dickson said they have changed the board’s countywide EMS map and plan. Smith said he stressed that the plan is “flexible.”
“I’m bringing it up now. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t bring it up last week,” Dickson said.
Supervisor Brian Johnson said the conversation that occurred with Carroll County has not caused any change yet.
“Nothing’s been done, it’s just a possibility that the board can look at down there,” Johnson said.
“So there really is no plan,” Dickson said.
As Smith and Dickson verbally sparred, Board Chair JD Kuster asked to “move on.”
County Engineer Josh Sebern reported on the recent Safety Action Plan Workshop, which is aimed at enhancing safety on roadways in the county. He explained that crash data is available and searchable to help the county identify specific areas or ways in which safety improvements can be made. Sebern added that 97 of the 99 Iowa counties are using this program.
Supervisor Maggie Armstrong told of grant funds available to help increase safety and said that it is likely Panora will install two “speed readout” displays similar to the one on the west edge of Yale.
“Not only do you get speed data, but you get traffic data, also,” Armstrong said.
Chip Schultz from Northland Public Finance provided an update on the bonds currently held by Guthrie County, and he answered questions from the supervisors.
County Auditor Dani Fink reported on upcoming election deadlines.
“Tomorrow, we’ll be sending about 700 mail-in ballots,” she said.
Supervisor Brian Johnson asked when those need to be returned by.
“By 8 p.m. on Election Day,” Fink said.
Fink added that any requests for a mail-in ballot must be made by Oct. 21.
The next regular meeting of the supervisors will be Tuesday, Oct. 22. The public is welcome to attend in person or via remote technology. To join remotely, call 323-792-6123, then use meeting code 547029216#.