Supervisors to begin discussions on EMS enhancement

In addition to setting aside about $2 million for the additional coverage to Jasper County’s advanced life support (ALS) services program, the board of supervisors on Aug. 16 decided the committee making recommendations for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) expenditures will look for more projects then disband.

Doug Bishop, the county treasurer and chairperson of the ARPA committee, shared the sheriff’s estimates for additional ALS support, which has been colloquially referred to as a countywide emergency medical services (EMS) program. The sheriff said the program is to supplement and not replace.

Several communities in Jasper County have a volunteer-led EMS team, and sheriff John Halferty wants those towns to maintain their identities. The ALS program — which has a small handful of deputies respond to EMS calls — addresses the response time challenges some volunteer agencies face.

To supplement the ALS program, Bishop recommended the board of supervisors save $2 million of its remaining $7.07 million in ARPA funding.

“Set aside that $2 million so you can go in-depth and think about the EMS program, which you do or do not want to do, or if you want to do it at all,” Bishop said. “But I would like the charge to go back to the ARPA committee, that we in turn sit down, reconvene and go through the list of the remaining projects.”

When the ARPA committee last met, the 11-person group voted to give $150,000 towards five projects identified as immediate needs. After lengthy discussions and alleged delays from the county auditor, the board passed the committee’s request and funded those projects. Bishop said the other projects will be bigger.

“I think we can all agree that the rest of the projects on the list are bigger projects (and) they’re going to take more money,” Bishop said. “But my thoughts are that I’ll go call the meeting to order and sit back and let the committee decide how they want to move forward, or which projects they think would be on the list.”

Although he is unsure whether the committee will prioritize the projects, the decision whether to give funds will ultimately be left up to the supervisors, Bishop said. However, the projects the committee will consider will have to have met the June 14 deadline instituted beforehand.

When the final list is voted upon, the ARPA committee will then be resolved. The board of supervisors were receptive to Bishop’s idea.

“There’s no point in keeping ARPA committee members kind of on the hook or are we going to get called back or you know. That way it’s done,” Jasper County Supervisor Brandon Talsma said before getting confirmation from fellow officials Doug Cupples and Denny Carpenter. “…I say let’s proceed that way.”

BREAKING DOWN ‘EMS ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM’

If the additional coverage to the ALS program requires more than just $2 million, the board of supervisors is within its right to adjust its allocation.

In an email to supervisors, Halferty explained some of the costs to expand the coverage of the county’s ALS program. In order to cover every day of the month, every day of the year, in addition to the two paramedics on staff now, the sheriff’s office would need to hire three to four part-time paramedics.

“I would recommend one full-time service director/paramedic position to oversee and perform the required audits, inspections, equipment supplies, etc.,” Halferty said in the email. “Jacob (Halferty), Steve (Ashing) and I are sharing these duties now. That full-time position would also be expected to help take calls.”

Additional documents provided to Newton News show one full-time position and four part-time positions would have an total annual cost of more than $177,000.

Halferty also proposed the county purchase two, fully equipped ALS response vehicles. The start-up costs can seem significant, he said, but the sheriff’s office would need to make sure there is a replacement plan in place for vehicles and the lifesaving devices inside each vehicle.

If the two response vehicles were outfitted with, it would cost $130,000, or $65,000 per vehicle. Two cardiac monitors would cost $74,000, and two LUCAS devices would cost $34,000. General EMS equipment for both vehicles are estimated at $20,000. Uniforms would be $2,000, and radios would be $10,000.

Altogether, the costs to outfit the vehicles would be about $270,000.

Having an ambulance package could be beneficial, too, but there is a two-year wait. Halferty said the county could also purchase a remanufactured ambulance or a used unit. The estimated cost of a new model is about $300,000, Halferty asid. Remanufactured or used would cost about $180,000.

Of course, there are annual costs as well, such as fuel, maintenance and refilling EMS supplies. Halferty estimates $5,000 per vehicle for fuel and maintenance, and possibly $42,000 for annual equipment replacement.

Halferty asserted the sheriff’s office is not trying to take over the EMS services of the communities who utilize volunteer first responders. The sheriff said the phrase “countywide EMS” is causing confusion. Talsma suggested it could be called an “EMS enhancement program” instead.

The ALS program is in its 18-month trial period, and it is so far going very well, Halferty said. Supervisors and the ARPA committee saw a need to enhance the program and further reduce response times. To accomplish this enhancement, the sheriff’s office would need part-time paramedics and extra equipment.

By adding these things, the sheriff’s office can cover more hours and provide more supportive services. Halferty said in the meantime his department is going to continue to support its other volunteer agencies. It is likely the supervisors and sheriff will continue this discussion in the near future.

“We want those communities to retain their identities. That’s important to them,” Halferty said. “But we want to be able to be a part of that.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext 560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com