Nokomis ambulance service to pay off debt

NOKOMIS — The Nokomis-Witt Area Ambulance Service‘s current line of credit with Security National Bank in Witt is about to mature. This currently has the board scrambling for action during its meeting on Monday, Nov. 13.

The board voted to pay an existing balance of $52,000 plus any underlying interest. Also approved was the board’s procurement of a larger line of credit for 2024. That line will be for $125,000. The existing line of credit was set to mature on December 7.

There were some corrections presented relating to the prior meeting of the board. One of them referenced is an issue relating to the vacation time paid to a former employee. The discrepancy in question refers to the amount of paid time off earned and what was paid.

Paid employees are working shifts from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. with volunteers covering the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift. Currently, they are working on an alternative schedule of three days on, two off, two on, and three off. Previously, they were only working three days a week.

Board members continue to speak with state legislators about changing the EMS service from a non-essential service under the Department of Transportation to an essential service.

The board discussed considerations of increasing its tax levy. While no action was taken, the ambulance board must set its rate by June 2024. It was also noted that the levy increase is necessary to continue to provide emergency services.

The board approved a resolution to renew a master agreement with the Mutual Aid Alarm Box System, or MABAS.

The employee handbook will be looking at some revisions in the near future. An updated version will be presented at the next meeting. The current handbook is outdated by roughly two decades and will require some updates, as well as several items needing clarification. One of those clarifications will address the paid time off matter and how it is paid out. Another clarification will address how items are paid or reimbursed.

HLNF Staff Report

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