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LOCAL

Demerath resigns as ambulance director; EMT group leader also steps down

By Jeremiah Tucker, Sauk Prairie Eagle

Jason Demerath and Rikky Schiller both announced their resignation as director and president, respectively, of the Sauk Prairie Ambulance Service in mass e-mails to the service’s oversight commission and Emergency Medical Technicians.

In his e-mail Oct. 29, Demerath stated the turmoil in the ambulance service had taken its toll on him, and that he arrived at the decision after conversations with his family.

He said his last day was Oct. 31.

"With the turmoil that has been amongst the Association and Commission, it has taken its toll on me, personally and professionally, so I have come to this decision voluntarily," Demerath stated in his email. 　

Sauk Prairie Ambulance Service Chair Roger Mack said during a phone interview Oct. 29 the commission accepted Demerath’s resignation after a presentation by an outside consultant during a joint meeting of the service and the commission Oct. 22.

The consultant Jo Ann Wipperfurth, CEO of Pre-Emergency Planning LLC in Lodi, recommended that the commission replace Demerath as director, and she recommended removing many of the service’s paid membership positions, including the president, vice president and secretary.

Wipperfurth will serve as interim director while the commission searches for Demerath’s replacement.

"I guess it’s kind of ironic, but it’s the only choice we have," said service commissioner Marcus Wenzel.

Wenzel said the commission made the decision during an Oct. 31 meeting.

Wenzel said Wipperfurth — who has a background in emergency services — recommended she fill-in as interim director, and the commission approved it. Wipperfurth’s administrative assistant also will fill in as the ambulance service’s administrative assistant, who also recently resigned.

"I will be putting in an average of 16 hours a week is what I'm anticipating," Wipperfurth said.

She said her assistant will be putting in about half that, and that the job openings for the service's director and administrative assistant are posted. Wipperfurth said she hopes the positions can be filled quickly, and that is she not applying for the full-time director position.

"Absolutely not," she said. "I never anticipated this either. When things happened the way they did, I said I would step up to the plate and help out for a few months."

She said she will be paid $50 an hour and her administrative assistant $30 an hour.

"My ultimate goal is to kind prepare the foundation for the new director," Wipperfurth said.

Mack couldn’t be reached for comment on his cell phone or at home Nov. 3. Commissioner Cheryl Sherman referred questions about Demerath’s replacement to Mack.

Schiller — elected by the EMTs to represent them during the commission’s business meetings — stated in her e-mail that she would remain part of the service and continue to serve as president until the service’s EMTs elected someone new.

"I do not feel that I can be effective in this role any longer given the political climate that still exists," Schiller stated. "I recognize that putting this organization back together and dealing with the changes that are yet to come will take a lot of work and cooperation on both sides. While I am certain that I can do my part, without bias, to help bring about these changes, I do not feel that a good enough working relationship exists between myself and the Commission to make cooperation possible."

In the e-mail, she asked the commission members to move forward without any biases.

Schiller makes $2,000 a years as president of the service, and the director position has a $55,000 salary.

Demerath also works part-time as an officer with the Sauk Prairie Police Department.

Mack said a search for Demerath’s replacement would begin soon.

"We’re going to have a meeting shortly here to see what options we got," Mack said. "We got to change the job descriptions and a few other things."