Classic contract expired

Recent legislation forces residents to pay for transportation out-of-pocket or with insurance

Yvonne Johnson, Carbon County Economic Development Corporation Director, was present at the October 8 Riverside Town Council meeting to introduce herself to the council and touch on topics on which she is currently working.

Johnson said that her main goal is to bridge the Valley and Rawlins and to let the council know that if there is any need for funding, be it $10 or $10,000, she is there to help. Johnson has been busy, she said that she has already gone through two rolls of stamps in the three months since she has started working. Some of the projects she has been working on include the Baggs lagoon fence, a Japanese Steakhouse in Rawlins and raising funds for the Hanna Fire Department.

Helen Weiland, South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services Joint Powers Board (SCWEMS JPB) representative, informed the council that the agreement with Classic Air Medical, provider of emergency air medical transportation, is now over. The loss of the coverage is due to a change in legislation this past spring. Weiland did let the council know that the company is still providing flights if emergency services are needed. However, the patient would need to utilize private insurance or self pay for their services.

Weiland then discussed other projects the SCWEMS JPB is considering. She said that they have approximately $220,000 of impact funds remaining in their accounts. The board has had numerous discussions as to what to do with the funds.

The SCWEMS JPB does not want to hire additional personnel that they are not able to sustain once the wind energy money runs out, so the board has been talking with the country regarding the ability to house EMTs from different locations, such as Laramie or Rawlins, in order to help cover this area. Medicine Bow has already used impact funding to build living units for emergency personnel but, currently, the units are not being utilized.

The SCWEMS JPB is looking into expanding the Saratoga Ambulance barn and build living units where fire fighters and EMTs could stay. Weiland said, “these guys always want extra shifts as long as we have living facilities.” She also said that they are still researching liability and contracts.

LeRoy Stephenson, Riverside Mayor, questioned Weiland regarding the bid they received for the Saratoga project. Weiland informed Stephenson that the bid had been high due to the fact that the plans were two feet over the allowable set backs. A variance would have been required along with a firewall per the fire marshal. The SCWEMS JPB decided to “shift things over” according to Weiland so the project fits within the proper set backs. They will be putting the project back up for bid.

Lee Ann Stephenson, Siera Modre Joint Powers Board (SMJPB) representative, said that there were not updates as they have not had a meeting since the last Riverside Town Council meeting.

Stephenson did say, however, that the Specific Purpose Tax Board is still waiting for the Carbon County audit to be completed. She said that once it is finished, “we’ll have satisfactory information to be able to begin selling bonds” at which time they will be able to distribute the money. Stephenson went on to say that the only people who were anxious to receive the funds was the County. The SMJPB has made the decision wait to make a distribution until one can be made to all.

Toward the end of the meeting, Mayor Stephenson, noted that there was a lot of money in the checking account. Jan Cook, Riverside Town Clerk, said that there was a balance of $317,873.70 which was largely due to funds from the Choke Cherry Wind Energy Project. Cook requested that some of the funds be moved into the WYOStar and Wyoming investments accounts. The council voted to move $60,000 to each.

The next meeting of the Riverside Town Council will be at 6 p.m. on November 5, 2020 at the Riverside Town Hall.

 

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