(PHOTO BY JENNA FRISBY / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
LEVY DISCISSION … The Williams County EMS met with the Commissioners on Thursday June 18th. They will be holding a special meeting at 7pm on Tuesday, July 23 in the conference room of the East Annex Building in order to further discuss the EMS Levy. All public is welcome and also invited to share their thoughts via email at wcc@wmsco.org .
By: Jenna Frisby
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jenna@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Commissioners met for their regular meeting on Thursday, July 18th. Their regular meeting held in the East Annex Building was called to order by Commissioner Bart Westfall at 9:15am.
In attendance were Commissioners Bart Westfall, Terry Rummel and Lew Hilkert, Clerk Anne Retcher, their Intern Elizabeth Fritsch, community members David Wehrle and Patt Rockey, and Williams County Health Commissioner Oscar Hernandez III.
After calling the meeting to order Westfall asked for any business to be brought before the board. Fritsch then presented the following resolutions:
RESOLUTION 24-0250: a resolution approving the county auditor to create new lines and make supplemental appropriations from and to the following funds:
Williams County Auditor – $128.16 from Other Expense to Non-Capital Equipment for the purchase of Micr printer.
Williams Hillside Country Living – $500 from Workers Comp-Chargebacks to Medicare to fund employee Medicare costs.
Williams County EMA – $800 from Contract Services to Medicare to cover shortfall in Medicare line.
Williams County Sheriff’s Office – $6,000 from Workers Comp to Travel-Lodging-Meals to replenish line.
RESOLUTION 24-0251: a resolution to proceed of the taxing authority, for the renewal of an existing Williams County Health District tax levy of 1 mill for the purpose of providing operating revenue as permitted under Ohio Revised Code 3709.29 for a term of five years. The tax rate will not exceed 1 mill for each $1 of taxable value which amounts to $32.00 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value.
This resolution was further discussed by Hernandez III, he explained that this is not a new tax levy rather the extension of an already establish one. The passing of this resolution will result in the tax levy being on the November 5th, 2024 ballot.
RESOLUTION 24-0253: a resolution to proceed of the taxing authority, for the renewal of an existing Williams County Department of Aging tax levy of 0.5 mill for the purpose of providing or maintaining senior citizens services or facilities as permitted under Ohio Revised Code 5705.19(Y) and 5705.191 for a term of five years.
The tax rate will not exceed 0.5 mill for each $1 of taxable value which amounts to $14.00 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value. The passing of this resolution will result in the tax levy being on the November 5th, 2024 ballot.
RESOLUTION 24-0254: a resolution to proceed of the taxing authority, for the renewal of an existing Williams County Department of Aging tax levy of 1 mill for the purpose of providing or maintaining senior citizens services or facilities as permitted under Ohio Revised Code 5705.19(Y) and 5705.191 for a term of five years.
The tax rate will not exceed 1 mill for each $1 of taxable value which amounts to $25.00 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value. The passing of this resolution will result in the tax levy being on the November 5th, 2024 ballot.
The commissioners informed those in session that the purpose for keeping the last two levies separate is because of the state funding that is behind those levies.
Had they been joined together they would no longer qualify for the state funds that they receive of those. Commissioner Hilkert also noted that both of those levies are renewals, so it would be no new monies to be taken.
RESOLUTION 24-0255: a resolution authorizing all actions necessary to affect a governmental electricity aggregation program with opt-out provisions pursuant to section 4928.20 of the Ohio Revised Code, directing the Williams County Board of Elections to submit a ballot question to the electors of unincorporated areas of the county excluding Center and Springfield Townships.
Commissioner Rummel commented that while this is not a levy it will be on the ballot, and they feel it’s very important for people to know about.
All resolutions brought before the board at this time were passed with Rummel motioning on each, Hilkert seconding, and Westfall in agreement.
Retcher then gave reports to the commissioners to review and sign which consisted of credit card expenditures from the sheriff’s office, a request to use the parking lot and restrooms for the Bike 2 the Bridge on August 3rd, and an Ag Culture Annual Payment request from the Williams County Fair Board in the total amount of $3,200.
Commissioner Rummel then made a motion to pass the minutes dated Jul 16th, 2024 as presented before the board. Commissioner Hilkert seconded, and commissioner Westfall was in agreement.
Rummel then motioned for approval of the bills as submitted by the county auditor, Hilkert seconded, and Westfall was in agreement.
With no further business for their general session, the commissioners went into a recess at 9:22am until their monthly update meeting with the Williams County EMS at 9:30am.
For the WC EMS meeting in attendance were: Commissioners Bart Westfall, Terry Rummel and Lew Hilkert, Clerk Anne Retcher, their Intern Elizabeth Fritsch, EMS Chief Kyle Brigle, EMS Assistant Chief Jesse Brumbaugh, EMS Office Manager Tiffany Gutierrez, and community members David Wehrle and Patt Rockey.
Commissioner Westfall called the meeting to order and handed the floor over to the EMS. Gutierrez started their meeting with a financial update on expenditures and income from the month of June.
She also informed the board of some known extra expenditures for the month of July as they had insurance come out of their account twice this month verses the typical once month payment.
They did have a cost this month of $254,600 for the purchase of two ambulances for the department. The first of the two ambulances is set to be delivered by Monday, July 22nd.
Discussion then opened up between the commissioners and the EMS staff in regard to the current units they have. All of the current units need work done to them.
One of the units broke down on the way to a call on Wednesday resulting in the EMS having to run a second unit out to that run and extending the amount of time it took to get to those in need. That unit which broke down was diagnosed with needing a new catalytic converter.
This is only one multitude of the reasons why the EMS is in need of these new ambulances. However, while having the new units will help the department, they also need to be able to maintain upkeep and service the units they do have.
Right now, funding is the greatest key for the EMS to be able to do that. In order for the EMS to remain above water and sustained as a department their goal is to keep at least $350,000 in their account. As of right now, the EMS checkbook is setting right around that minimum limit.
While the EMS is running units that need work done at this time. They don’t really have another choice at this point. If they want to continue to be on the forefront of doing their jobs, they have to continue to do runs.
Many of times when the EMS gets a call, they don’t know what they may be walking into. But each one of those individuals who go on those calls understands that they may be the difference between life and death to someone.
Most of the ambulances that need overall work done, is a result of the units needing new chassis. The least number of miles on any of their current units is 150,000 miles.
If the department can get the units boxes transferred to new chassis they will be able to continue to run the units.
Commissioner Rummel suggested that if and when the EMS is able to do that, that they also have some sort of rust prevention applied to the bottom of the units while they are taken apart. The EMS staff agreed that this would be something that they would want to be done before the units got placed onto the new chassis.
The EMS staff then covered with the commissioners upcoming costs they anticipate to be upcoming for equipment replacement. One of those items needed on all the units are the cot loaders (the automatic beds that they use to carry those who are being treated on as they transport them).
The cost for the replacement of one of those is about $67,500. And those are needed on all the units, not just one. Another time that needs replaced coming up are the LUCAS (Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System) devices.
This device provides mechanical chest compressions to patients in cardiac arrest. The cost of replacement of this device is $30,000.
Assistant Chief Brumbaugh informed the commissioners that he would be preparing and compiling a more formal list of what needs to be replaced when so that they can take more preventative action instead of emergency action which is where they are at now.
Chief Brigle then discussed that he started the process of applying for a grant that he was hopeful to receive. The grant was a worker’s comp grant that if they were awarded would give them $40,000 to cover the costs of the power cots.
However, the EMS would have to cover the other $27,500 of the cost of those cots. Another contingency of the grant, if awarded, would be that the EMS would have to pay the full amount up front and then the grant would refund the $40,000.
Both Chief Brigle and Assistant Chief Brumbaugh then asked the commissioners their thoughts on getting rid of the gator that the EMS has as well as a Mass Casualty Trailer they have.
The gator is something that they only use really once a year when they take it to the fair, and of the countless years they’ve had it there they have used it only once or twice.
For the Mass Casualty Trailer, it’s something that is stocked with things that really could be put on a regular unit and is truly taking up room being stored in West Unity.
It has never been used and they don’t foresee any use to come out of the trailer, especially with being able to be able to stock the regular units with the items the trailer has been carrying.
The commissioners advised the EMS that they could go about getting rid of the Mass Casualty Trailer. The gator would have to be further looked into as it was part of grant funding when it was purchased. The commissioners advised to speak with the county auditor in seeing if there is further paperwork on how to get the gator off their hands.
Chief Brigle then requested that they enter into an executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel and employment. The commissioners and EMS staff entered into executive session at 9:51am and exited the session at 10:02am with no action taken.
Brigle and Brumbaugh then opened the floor up for the discussion with the commissioners on the topic of the EMS Levy. The discussion began with the proposal for a 1.85 mill levy to be put on the ballot.
However, the discussion also circled back to the discussion of the 1.5 mill levy that was discussed prior to the meeting. However, even with the change in amount the purpose of the levy has never changed.
Even from the initial levy of 3.5 mill that was asked for. The only reason they were able to come down on the levy amount was because they have decided to keep transfers which have been a vital income for the EMS.
Some of the issue with the decision on a levy amount is due to House Bill 388 with the Ohio Revised Code ORC-3901 having passed back on January 12, 2022. That house bill holds back the EMS from surprise billing patients for the balance of the patient’s bill.
This is something that the EMS is currently reaching out to the county prosecutor’s office about and working with them on the options that the EMS has in terms of patient billing.
Commissioner Rummel brought to the table that he is not comfortable with a 1.85 mill levy at this time. He would support a 1.5 mill levy, but he doesn’t understand where the transparency is on the levy.
While there has been some communication with the public, it seems to have been very minimal and the department is struggling to get contact with people to see what they really want.
Rummel stated that he is fully on board and behind the EMS supporting them, but without further information, he doesn’t feel that he could support the 1.85 mill.
Commissioner Westfall then spoke on how he had personally emailed all the mayors in Williams County asking for their take on the EMS levy and while he did get responses, he did not receive any response from the mayors of Bryan, Stryker, or Edon.
So, he understands where the EMS is coming from on the issue of hearing back from the community on their opinions of the levy.
Commissioner Hilkert stated that really no one is in disagreement that there needs to be a levy, the question is for how much? The levy coming through is truly a matter of public safety.
It circles back to that any call for EMS to be on can be a matter of life or death and the community has to get behind them in support of what they do.
Members of the community Wehrle and Rockey then both spoke separately but on the same idea that there hasn’t been enough transparency or publicity about the levy options at all.
Wehrle mentioned how he didn’t even know about the meeting they were having until 12 hours before the meeting. Rockey discussed how even at least one of the commissioners didn’t even know what the amount was that was on the levy presented until the evening before their meeting, something that was mentioned earlier in the discussion.
Commissioner Westfall did state that they were not trying to hide anything. They did not realize until Wednesday that this would be the past scheduled meeting before the submitting date deadline that all the commissioners will be together.
With a little further discussion commissioner Westfall stated that they would be tabling the resolution for the levy at this time. The commissioners then decided that they would be holding their next session at 7:00pm on Tuesday, July 23rd in the East Annex Conference Room.
They would like to welcome the general public to come out to that meeting and join in conversation about the levy. The public is also welcomed to email their thoughts on the levy to the commissioner’s office at wcc@wmsco.org .
The commissioners will then vote and pass which levy will make it to the November 5th ballot at their following general session meeting on Thursday, July 25th at 1pm at their commissioner’s office in the East Annex Building.
The address to the East Annex Building is: 1425 E. High Street, Bryan OH 43506. The conference room is located at the end of the hallway with the entrance door on the right of the waiting area.
