SCWEMS board down to four

Director announces resignation, chairman and board member also leave SCWEMS

Three resignations occurred at the regularly scheduled South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services (SCWEMS) Board meeting that started 6 p.m. and ended at around 11 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Elk Mountain Fire Station.

The meeting had only SCWEMS Saratoga board representative, Linda Talbot, not in attendance.

Money Talks

Linda Crane, bookkeeper for SCWEMS went over the financials with the board. The topic of direct payroll was brought forth. The discussion went over the costs having it in place versus the current system of the ambulance director getting the checks from Crane and then getting the checks to the different stations.

“I spend a full day dropping the checks off to the stations,” Heidi Sifford, SCWEMS ambulance director said. “I would think it would be wise to switch to this system.”

The board approved an initial fee of setting up the payroll direct deposits with Rawlins National Bank for $250 and having direct deposit as the way employees get payroll checks. This approval included having all new hires to have a checking account.

After the direct deposit was approved, Steward had to stand up because of pain he was suffering while sitting.

“I apologize for having to stand up,” Steward said. “I have become chronic again and sitting is the worst thing for it, so if you will indulge my standing on occasion.” Steward then presented a spread sheet that was a summary of revenue from sales and local governments for the fiscal years of 2009 through 2017.

“You see the breakdown from the beginning of SCWEMS to the fiscal year of 2017,” Steward said. “Before we did it by calendar year, but for budgetary projections, it is better to use a fiscal calendar.”

Steward’s spreadsheet had the fiscal year and calls, total charges, credits with other write offs, profit and loss actual, gross reimbursement, net reimbursement, budgeted amounts, local government revenues and the price of an average call during each fiscal year.

For fiscal years of 2016 to 2017, there were 247 calls that averaged $1,018.67.

“We have added some more billable calls that we haven’t been able to bill for in the past,” Sifford said. “Even though our call volume is low right now, I expect the things we are billing for will help supplement the decreasing calls.”

“We are addressing what I call other write offs, and some of them are what I would say is self inflicted,” Steward said.

Sifford gave examples of what Steward was talking about. One write off was that when an employee or direct family had to use the ambulance service, it was written off. The new policy, is whatever the employee’s insurance does not cover, SCWEMS will write off.

“So we’ll be seeing a little more money coming in from that,” Sifford said. “We have also never charged for deaths in the field, because we felt it was a time we just don’t send out bills. The new policy is we write off whatever an insurance company doesn’t cover, so we will get money from insurance companies, but we won’t be leaving family members with large bills after they pass.”

Sifford said the new billing company is allowing SCWEMS to bill for intercepts. The new way is when an ambulance picks up a call it bills for the patient until the person leaves. This did not happen before and intercepts often had no money coming in even though a service was provided.

“That will give us significant revenue increases just off this change,” Sifford said. “Lastly we have never charged for treat and releases, and I am not sure why we didn’t, but I think it was not having any policy in place for that.”

Now if a call comes in, if there is some sort of injury that requires an assessment, a fee of $200 is charged.

“The big thing was the interstate where we have truck drivers that have been blown over, and there were six of them. We just spent a ton of money on just being out there with our vehicles, supplies as we bandage them so now we are charging although certain criteria has to be met,” Sifford explained. “We have to be able bill for what level care we provide.”

“The one thing I have realized as I have stared at this the last couple of weeks, I think the numbers are good,” Steward said. “I lack some expertise in P and L (profit and loss) to analyze them and predict trends or what we can do to manipulate, so this is just the start and I am going to keep filling it in, and I can only think it is going to help us, when we get in our budgetary process.”

Communication Issues

When Steward was ready to go over chairman’s notes, Judy Redding, the Elk Mountain representative, interjected.

“Jeb, I am going to bring something up and I don’t want you to think I am angry or anything like that, but I am concerned you called this government meeting without telling us or consulting you were going to do this,” Redding said. “We’re equal voices here and we were told three days later after you told our town councils, and then you were pushing things through that you had talked about, but that we had not talked about.”

Redding said she wanted to let the record show she was concerned.

“Duly noted,” Steward said. “I think everyone understands the process that has been put in place to amend the joint powers committee that was explained at the meeting.”

“You talked about it, but we didn’t talk about it,” Redding said. “We have not talked about this stuff, you mentioned it, but we didn’t talk about it.”

Sifford asked to say some words. “ I don’t know how many of you were at the EMS assessment, most of the entities at that meeting asked Jeb to make changes to the joint powers agreement and I think that is where he went with it,” Sifford said. “This was something the municipalities wanted and I think this was the assistance he was trying to do in a timely manner.”

Steward said that Sifford was correct in why he had moved so quickly.

“We exist today, only because of them and they are the ones who have the authority to amend or change joint powers agreement,” Steward said.

“I know they are the ones doing that, but we are still supposed to be kind of involved,” Redding said. “I think you could have told us the same time you told them.”

Keeping Coverage

The topic went back to the chairman notes.

Steward’s topics were on the meeting of local government participating agencies, impact assistance money, the revenue summary/update, a new full time EMT position and the Hanna clinic doing a partnership similar to what happens with the Saratoga clinic.

Sifford said she was impressed with how the Hanna station was handling all the calls even though there had been a loss of staff. She told the board there were two new hires that were from Rawlins that would be staying in stations that needed coverage at that particular time. Sifford said she is helping them find lodging in the towns when they are needed. She also said there are others who might like to do this, watching to see how this process will work.

“I like this idea,” Matt Cox, the Hanna board representative said.

Director Hands

in Resignation

This discussion ended and Steward read Sifford’s letter of resignation. The letter said it had been a tough decision and she thanked the board for all the opportunities she had received. She said her departure was effective Feb. 28 although she would do everything possible to make the transition smooth. She will continue to help with SCWEMS.

Steward suggested an interim ambulance director be found quickly as possible, while the board looks for a permanent person. Cox said he might be interested in the ambulance director position.

“I just want to put that out there so it is public and not look I am gearing the position towards myself,” Cox said. “I am not committing to anything, but it is something I am considering, so if it is something that needs me to remove me from this process, I will step back although I don’t know for sure I will apply.”

The board decided to have a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Feb. 26 at Elk Mountain (this meeting did not occur).

Boswell Springs Forth

The meeting got a bit strained when the subject of Boswell Springs ISC permit process for impact assistance money came up.

Jim Colman, Medicine Bow board representative, moved to have the topic taken from the table to put it before the board so he could ask questions.

“I don’t have a time frame, so I can’t go to a place and ask for a room or a lease when I don’t know the time frame,” Colman said.

“Are you asking me for ...” Steward started and then said, “There is no one in Medicine Bow.”

Colman said at that point, “I am asking for this board to tell me how long a time frame we are talking about putting one, two, three EMTs and their drivers. I have seen one notice that said 31 months.”

“Is it possible for you to discuss with them (owners of housing) and just get an estimate of a yearly lease would run?” Sifford asked.

“Are you talking about a one bedroom or two bedroom apartment, male and female or two males?” Colman asked.

“I would ask about a two bedroom no matter if it is male/female or male/male, those would just be the living arrangements provided.” Sifford said.

“Hold on a second,” Steward said. “I asked you to kind of handle this, put together a proposal, put together a budget and I gave you a letter outlining how much money we are going to get by sending you a spreadsheet from the county and how the payments were going to come in,” Steward said. “Can you put together a plan and budget off of that?”

Steward told Colman to plan for three years. Colman said the letter he had gotten was not specific mentioning what he felt were vague numbers of employees and he wanted specifics.

Sifford said that Colman should plan for a driver and an EMT on each shift.

“He just needs a little more structure so he can ask the right questions,” Sifford said.

“To put together a 24/7 schedule we might need four EMTs ... but it will be two full-time employees,” Steward said.

“Okay, I’m seeing that but I didn’t have enough information for what we needed,” Colman said. “I am sorry, but I don’t understand what we are looking for as you have listed $240,000 for 31 months. So that is to include all your salaries and I don’t know what a salary for an EMT is.”

Sifford offered to help Colman get that information.

Morgan Irene, mayor of Elk Mountain, who was in the audience asked, “Mr. Chair, just for my understanding this budget, is this an effort for this board to know how you are going to use this money when it comes, if it comes?”

“A broad outline if you will, a proposal,” Steward said. “I tried to delegate some tasks, I am so sorry I did now. What I am asking for might only take an afternoon to do, in my mind.”

Kenda Colman, Medicine Bow town council member, in the audience said, “In defense, you have run this budget how long?—and Jim has been on the board one month.”

“I thought since he was in Medicine Bow—but do the best you can,” Steward said. “Clearly, I looked at this money to bring back ambulance service back to Medicine Bow.”

The discussion on Boswell Springs was tabled for next meeting.

New Hires?

The subject of hiring a new full-time EMT took a board, still tense from the Boswell Springs discussion, to another level of testiness.

The board asked Steward if the hiring would effect the duties of the ambulance director or the assistant ambulance director.

“At this point, I don’t know how to answer any of your questions at all,” Steward said. “It is whatever you guys want to do. I am about to give up. I keep asking for help on this and I keep getting no suggestion. I make suggestions and all I get is criticism, so I am throwing this out there and you tell me what you want to do.”

Kelly Ralston, Riverside board member, said she liked the idea of a new full-time EMT position. Redding asked how it would work if two towns needed the service at the same time.

“Okay, I give up, it doesn’t work,” Steward said. “I am ready to move on to the next item. Are we done? I’m done.”

Redding said she was putting out her thoughts and asked Steward not to get upset.

Sifford suggested concentrating on getting the ambulance director before searching for a full time EMT.

“This could potentially wait until you get the director secured and then move forward,” Sifford said. “That would be my suggestion Mr. Chairman.”

“I don’t care,” Steward said. “Whatever the board wants to do.”

Carbon County board representative, Donna Pipher, agreed with Sifford’s suggestion.

“We have to move forward somehow, because we have three irons in the fire.”

The full time EMT position was tabled to another meeting.

Impact Assistance

There is a chance for the Hanna clinic to partner with SCWEMS in a manner similar to the Saratoga clinic model. Steward said he would pursue talks with Hanna clinic.

Steward said he sent out an email on trying to get money from TB Flats ISC permit process for impact assistance money to possibly build a ambulance station that would have housing. He said he had gotten no response from any board member.

Steward said a problem with working with all the wind project companies is they are not in sync with each other, yet all are creating major impacts to the region. He said he was told by these companies coordination could only happen through the Carbon County planning process.

“I put this in front of the board—so instead of me saying this is what I did, I am trying to get out in front with you guys,” Steward said. “I would like to move on, if that is okay.”

Executive Session

The board went into executive session at 9:20 p.m.

Executive session ended after around 45 minutes and the board returned and Redding made the suggestion to discuss subjects before the actual meetings started.

After that suggestion was noted, Steward asked if there was any other business.

Chair Asked

to Step Down

“There is Jeb, I would like to ask you to step down as chairperson,” Pipher said. “It has nothing to with anything from executive session. I have watched how you have treated Jim, how you have treated Judy, how you treated me, but when you said you didn’t care about item 12A, the new full time, that is not the way a chairman would act. You have to care about this. I know you are butting your head against the wall. Somewhere along the line, the way you treat other board members needs to stop. You need to include us whether it is good or bad.”

“I think as a board we need to step up and volunteer more,” Ralston said. “I understand why Jeb said what he said. He literally has a full-time job doing these things for free for us.”

Sifford agreed with Ralston that Steward had done an excellent job with little thanks.

Pipher said the board did need to step up more to help.

“Let me clarify, you are asking me to step down,” Steward said.

“As chair, not from the board,” Pipher said.

Sifford asked Pipher who would take over all the work Steward did on a day-to-day basis.

Ralston and Sifford both told the board that it was not in the best interest of the service—and there would be no benefit in him stepping down.

“I will say on my part (as a board member), I think he is doing a hell of a job, in a thankless position with no help and I literally thank God he hasn’t come up to me and said ‘I quit,’” Ralston said.

“Has he not said that, ‘I’m done, I’m done,’” Pipher countered.

“But he has never stopped,” Ralston said.

She asked the other board members who were silent what they thought.

“I was really upset what he said to Jim,” Redding said.

“When I was asking questions about Boswell, he presumed I knew what he meant, and I didn’t, so I had questions,” Colman said. “I did not want to ask him. I wanted to ask the board because the board makes the decisions and I was given the impression I was too dumb to do the job—and I at least made the effort to do the job.”

“What you saw there was me exhibiting frustration,” Steward said. “It was one of the very first times I have tried to delegate something to anyone Jim, so I apologize you didn’t understand my email and you had more questions, but asking the board about Boswell Springs may have not been the best decision.”

“Who am I supposed to ask? Colman countered.

“You could have asked me.” Steward said.

“But you are one person, not the board,” Colman said.

Pipher said when Steward became chairman there were issues he did not consider important so they were regulated to the background. Steward said he found out there were more pressing matters to take on.

“If you want to bring those issues back again, that is your prerogative and you can bring that to the next chairman,” Steward said. “I can’t do this by myself, I never said I could and I have begged for help and asked for support and all I get is questions and criticism when I try to move the ball forward. My resignation from this board is effective today, I have no support from my board. You guys are on your own. You guys have made my life miserable.”

Ralston expressed her displeasure with the board and quit immediately after Steward finished speaking.

The meeting then came to an end.

The will be a workshop for the membership of the SCWEMS Joint Powers Board at 6 p.m. on Tuesday in Saratoga at the town hall.

 

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