EMS to cost $1.48 million
By Andy Steinke, Dells Events
The Dells-Delton Emergency Medical Service Commission approved a 2010 operating budget of more than $1.48 million Monday morning that included a new municipality in its coverage area.
At a meeting earlier this month, Tory Wolfram, a New Haven resident, came before the commission on behalf of the town and asked if it would take the town back.
The commission asked that the town send a formal letter seeking to rejoin the service it left about three years ago.
The commission tentatively approved adding New Haven to its services in 2010 at a cost of $25 per person, or $17,750 for a full year, and will work on a contract with the town.
The town is currently serviced by Divine Savior EMS. Its contract with the service expires Feb. 23. The New Haven Town Board discussed a switch to Dells-Delton EMS during a budget preparation meeting earlier this month.
The service’s $1,484,822 operating budget is a 13.56 percent increase over the 2009 budget of $1,307,486.
The commission has also projected it will be more than $65,000 over its 2009 budget by the end of the year. Some of the contributing factors to the overage are workers compensation insurance (projected to be $17,340 over budget), unemployment pay (nearly $7,000 over), health insurance ($16,000) and vehicle maintenance ($9,000).
Director Janene Clark said earlier this month that three of the service’s five trucks are in for repair more than they are in service.
The commission voted earlier this month to purchase a new ambulance from Lifeline for nearly $150,000 and Monday it set aside $50,000 in its operating budget toward the purchase of future trucks, something it hasn’t done in recent years.
The commission decided to purchase a new engine for one of its ambulances rather than contract with Lifeline to refurbish one of the trucks for about $100,000.
EMS employees will receive the 3 percent raise discussed at the commission meeting earlier this month, but the commission decided Monday to add slightly to Clark’s raise, resulting in a 4 percent raise.
"She’s done a phenomenal job and the service is well run, and we don’t want to lose her," Commissioner Tom Diehl said of the reason for the raise after the meeting.
The commission approved final numbers owed by the town/village and the city. The city will pay 45 percent and the town and village will pay 55 percent, with the village picking up the 5 percent that the city paid this year.
The cost to the city will be $240,647.40, down from the $250,000 it paid this year. The village and town will pay $294,124.60, up from its contribution of $250,000 this year. Ambulance fees paid by insurance or individuals and other municipalities will make up the remainder of the revenue.