Homeland security grant funds reduced
County continues discussion of ambulance billing
Marion County Communications and Emergency Management Director Michele Abbott-Becker presented a monthly report Monday to Marion County Commission.
In 2006, there will be $256,831 distributed to the county in Homeland Security grant funds, about half previously received. Of that amount, $68,488 is earmarked for law enforcement to use for terrorism prevention.
In other department business:
— Abbott-Becker continues to work with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) regarding reimbursement for a January ice storm.
— During the month of February, county dispatch received 633 calls to 911 with more than 70 percent from cell phones.
— Voice mail will be installed soon.
— Commissioner Randy Dallke asked Abbott-Becker the reason not all emergency medical services personnel can not be paged through the county's radio system. Abbott-Becker explained some EMS radios have not been programmed because some individuals chose not to bring their radios to be programmed when the programmer was available.
Dallke suggested an inventory be compiled to assure all radios are programmed. Abbott-Becker also said some radios do not belong to the county; some belong to individuals, which makes it difficult to supervise.
An advisory board devised radio guidelines for those who choose to purchase their own equipment.
— Abbott-Becker requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel with county clerk Carol Maggard also in attendance. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
Ambulance department reported:
— Director Darryl Thiesen provided information regarding office personnel's job duties as requested by the commission.
The department remains behind in collecting payments for ambulance runs and the commission wanted Thiesen to come up with a plan to catch up the billing.
Dallke asked Thiesen to give an estimate of the amount of revenue yet to be collected. Thiesen said that would be difficult to do because that amount is not determined until the information is computed.
Thiesen said he would provide a cost estimate per run and the number of runs yet to be billed. Dallke said he was concerned about the number of claims that were rejected because of the tardiness of filing. Thiesen said claims could be filed up to 12 months after the run date to collect.
— Thiesen requested the installation of an additional telephone for office personnel at a cost of $218. The commission determined an additional phone was not necessary.
— A 15-minute executive session was requested by Thiesen to discuss personnel. When the session reconvened, the commission authorized employee Deanna Olsen to take vacation time from April 11-15, and April 28 and 29.
