Posted on by Eric Mckenzie

September Board Meeting Minutes

                   MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD 

Subj:      Board Meeting, Minutes of September 14, 2022

  1. Subject board meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.  

The following personnel were present or attended via Zoom or by phone

The following personnel were present or attended via Zoom or by phone

Kimberly Jacobs, Vice President                      Lisa Stewart, Member

Donna Morrison, Treasurer                               Eric McKenzie, Superintendent

Megan Hubbard, Secretary                                Bridgett Fessler, Recorder

Carla Fitzgerald, Member                                  Heather Calvert, Guest

Absent Member – Angie Billue

Minutes of the August 10, 2022 meeting were read and discussed. Donna-Motion, Carla-Seconded, Board unanimous to accept the minutes as read.

Bills were reviewed and approved.  – Carla-Motion, Megan-Seconded, Board unanimous to accept and pay all expenses.

Treasurer’s Report – The Financial Status of Accounts, Carla-Motion, Donna-Seconded, Board unanimous to accept the Financial Status of Accounts.     

Superintendent’s Report – For the month of August there were 92calls, 58 transports, 34 non- transports.  Financial reports were not available for the meeting.     

The availability of new ambulances has a projected two year wait.  With this knowledge, and the age/mileage of our trucks, Eric wants to start checking options on purchasing a new ambulance.  Carla-Motion, Megan-Seconded, Board unanimous for Eric to start checking prices to purchase a new ambulance.  

ARPA (COVID) ten million dollars in grants will be given out to EMS agencies within the state of Missouri.  The grants will be $20,000.00 increments and will probably require 50/50 match, details still pending.

Sunday, September 18th, Chariton County 4-H will be having a Fire, Law, and EMS appreciation dinner at Northwestern High School in Mendon.  Several of our staff plans to attend.

Carl will be taking a 40 hour EMS instructor course in October.  University has received a grant to have a virtual EMT class.  CCAD has offered to host and will receive $30 per hour for the facility and $20 per hour for an instructor during the course.

In October and November, Eric and the crews will be meeting with sophomores and juniors at the local high schools to discuss careers in EMS.

On August 16th Eric went to Jefferson City to discuss the Train Derailment and Paramedic shortage with the Regional Homeland Security Advisory Committee.

The new Mental Health program has started and our Behavioral Health Liaison has started doing, “six month check-ins,” on the employees.

Collection Reports from Frank Flaspohler were reviewed and discussed.     

Donna-Motion, Megan-Seconded, Board unanimous to accept the Superintendent’s report.

  1. Old Business:
  1. Train Derailment – On August 27th Amtrak hosted a hot wash followed by an appreciation meal and recognition.  No action taken.
  • 2020-21 Audit Report – The finalized audit was discussed, Carla-Motion, Megan-Seconded, Board unanimous to accept the report. 
  1. New Business:
  1. Health Insurance Renewal – Heather from James Duncan’s office presented the 2023 group health insurance renewal.  Our current plan took a 6% increase. Heather offered another option that is an 80/20 plan that has a less out of pocket expense for the employees than our current policy.  Carla-Motion, Donna-Seconded, Board unanimous to go with the 80/20 plan.  Heather will make herself available to speak to the employees. 
  • Frank Foster – Frank unexpectedly passed away on August 14, 2022.  Frank Flaspohler has worked with Frank Foster for the past several years and Frank Foster designated Frank Flaspohler as his “trustee” who will be taking over the clients that Frank Foster served and honoring his contracts.   

The Chariton County Ambulance District had just renewed his contact in June 2022.

Frank Flaspohler already works with the Chariton County Ambulance District in the capacity of collecting our bad debt accounts.    

Donna-Motion, Carla-Seconded, Board unanimous to stay with Frank Flashpohler as our legal counsel.

  • December Board Meeting Date Change – Due to Eric being out of town, the December meeting date will be December 7th.  No action taken.
  • Pregnancy Added To The Non-discrimination Policy – Pregnancy has been added to our Policy and Procedure manual following a mid-term audit by the Bureau of EMS.  No action taken.
  • Complaint About Legal Fees – Family of a patient sent a letter to the Board expressing dissatisfaction of legal fees applied to an account that had been turned over for non-payment.  The letter was reviewed by the Board.  No action taken.
  • December Employee Appreciation Dinner – There will not be an Employee Appreciation dinner.  Full-time, and part-time employees (who work 100 hours or greater) will received an additional $25.00 uniform allowance.  Donna-Motion, Carla-Seconded, Board Unanimous.
  • Changing Software Company for EPCR – We currently pay $4,973 per year for AmbuPro.  Image Trend will be free through the state and is compatible with our billing software and Zoll equipment.  None of our NEMSIS reports were submitted to the state since 2019 due to a software flaw with AmbuPro.  With Image Trend, NEMSIS data will automatically be submitted to the state.  Carla-Motion, Lisa-Seconded, Board unanimous to change software providers at the end of the current contract with AmbuPro. 
  1. Other Business: None.

No further business.  Carla-Motion, Lisa-Seconded, Board unanimous to adjourn meeting at 07:40 p.m.

Secretary to the Board                        for           Secretary of the Board

 Bridgett Fessler                                                   Megan Hubbard