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Cost of ambulance runs increases

Ambulance charges will increase to keep pace with changes in Medicare reimbursements and the increased costs of providing the service.

Darryl Thiesen, director of emergency medical services, told Marion County Commission Feb. 1 that Medicare will only pay base rate and mileage, not consumable supplies. He encouraged the commission to increase the rates to cover expenses.

The commission approved an increase of $50 for each level of call.

Thiesen said a significant number of ambulance calls were paid by Medicare. He had talked to Newton, which is a different setup than Marion County with full-time employees, and was told Newton charges $350 across the board for all types of calls.

Marion County's charges will increase to $300 to $450, depending on the services rendered on the call.

In other business:

— Thiesen said he will meet with Butler Community College of Marion to discuss emergency medical technician classes.

Commissioner Randy Dallke said there were seven people in Florence wanting to take the class. Thiesen said he had talked with Judy Creamer of Florence, and he had agreed to provide a class.

The commission requested a 10-minute executive session with Thiesen to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.

— Cooperative Grain & Supply of Hillsboro was awarded area fuel bids for a bid of $12,918 for 6,550 gallons of fuel at an average cost of $1.97 per gallon.

Cardie Oil Company of Tampa presented a bid of $13,195 for the same amount of fuel for an average cost of $2.01 per gallon.

— Cardie Oil Company was awarded the low bid of $7,122 for motor oil. The bid was for 10 55-gallon drums and 30 30-gallon drums.

Cooperative Grain & Supply also provided a bid of $9,150 for the same amount.

— Cook, Flatt, & Strobel was selected as engineering consultant for upcoming county bridge projects.

— A used breaker for $5,700 for a county backhoe was approved for purchase.

Jim Herzet, county road and bridge superintendent, also reported a new trailer needed to be purchased because the new backhoe was too heavy for the old trailer.

— Herzet requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.

— Dallke asked Herzet why the new dump trucks were not pulling pups. Herzet said the trucks were not designed to do that.

Steve Hudson, road supervisor, explained the tandem trucks are used for chip sealing and wouldn't be able to dump their loads if pulling a pup.

Herzet added that the trucks also are used on shorter roads because they turn around easier than a dump truck pulling a trailer.

Commission chairman Dan Holub asked if a semi trailer could be used for hauling materials. Hudson said the trailer would only be useful for straight line hauling and would have to watch for clearance.

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