By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
During the regular meeting of the New Richland City Council, Oct. 11, 2021, an agreement was reached between Expert Billing and the city to provide ambulance billing services beginning Nov. 1, 2021.
A two-year contract agreement approved by the council will have Expert Billing handling essentially all parts of the billing process, including collections, deposits, and insurance paperwork for services provided by the New Richland ambulance department at a cost of $29 per each “billable transport” beginning Dec. 1. The month of November will be used for Expert Billing to prepare their systems and computers for the city’s account.
Police Department
Police Chief Anthony Martens reported the department responded to 133 calls for service during the month of Sept., bringing the year’s total calls for service to 1,222, up from last year’s total of 981.
One past city ordinance violation regarding Wallace Laundromat will be going to court Oct. 22, 2021. In the past month, 12 vehicle violations were issued and one parking violation. A total of six violations are pending resolution.
The council approved two background checks for applications for part-time openings with the police department. One part-time officer is leaving at the end of the year to accept a full-time position elsewhere.
Chief Martens provided numerous other updates: the Emergency Siren grant application looks like it will be approved; Officer Gehrke accepted a commendation from the Waseca Police department for his response to the Arik Matson shooting; Tuesday, Nov. 2, the Homeland Security Director will be coming to Waseca to speak.
The council accepted the police department report.
Ambulance Department
Ambulance Director Sarah Sundve presented the council with four applications for department positions. The council approved three applications, per Sundve’s recommendation.
Three EMT refresher courses for personnel, as well as $25 for Sundve’s training application fee, were approved for a total of $910.
Director Sundve asked the council to consider fixing the showers and bathrooms in the department. “The toilet, sink, and shower need some work. Crew members would like to be able to shower after calls while they are staying here.
“It would be good for fire also, so if they have a bad call they can use it.”
“We have a hose,” Councilperson Chad Neitzel joked.
The council approved a request for bids/estimates/prices for the back restroom area, including showers, water softener, faucet, and toilet.
Also approved by the council was the purchase of five batteries for the department's “green” radios for $885.
Other topics discussed and reported by Sundve: crew members will be handing out candy from the ambulance at city park on Halloween; Sundve is working on getting new shirts for the department; Sundve is working to replace the door on the department’s ambulance because it has already rusted and the replacement should be covered under warranty; Sundve is working on a relief association in order for the department to do fundraisers for the department similar to the way the fire department does; next month the ambulance crew will be visiting NRHEG school to work with students for CPR and AED training; the department responded to 24 calls for service in Sept; Sundve inquired about the department providing welfare checks once a month to elderly New Richland residents.
Director Sundve said that training for ambulance department members provided by South Central EMS and already paid for by the city, was cancelled.
“The reason being the funding is not there,” Director Sundve told the council. “But we paid the medical direction for them and that’s where our training is supposed to come out of. Now I bring your guy’s attention to that because supposedly there’s no money for it. So some of the people that are working I had to find continued education for them to do online in order to keep their certifications up to date because our South Central EMS funding is not there right now.”
“Where’s the money that we paid?” Councilperson Loren Skelton asked.
“I don’t know,” Director Sundve responded. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to Mark [from South Central EMS] yet.”
“Is that money specifically earmarked for training?” Councilperson Jason Casey asked.
“For training purposes, yes,” Sundve answered. “That’s why we pay the medical direction... I still got some digging to do.”
“It seems pretty simple,” Skelton said. “A phone call.”
“I think you go higher up than talking to Mark,” Councilperson Neitzel interjected. He later directed Sundve who to speak with.
“I don’t wanna discuss too much,” Sundve responded. “I’ll discuss that with you at another time, since you’re on the [ambulance] committee.”
The council accepted the Ambulance Department report.
Misc.
The Sept. 27 council meeting minutes were approved following an adjustment. A Halloween party planned for Oct. 31 is cancelled.
Resolutions 21-22 and 21-23 were approved, which include a vacation of a small portion of property on Balsam Avenue, as well as the creation of a new address in town, 414 2nd St. SE.
Just for Kicks dance studio was approved for a prorated rental price of city hall for $75 per session. A public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 25 at 6:35 p.m. in order to accept a USDA Rural Development grant.
The meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m.
“It would be good for fire also, so if they have a bad call they can use it.”
“We have a hose,” Councilperson Chad Neitzel joked.
South Central EMS Training
Director Sundve said that training for ambulance department members provided by South Central EMS and already paid for by the city, was cancelled.
“The reason being the funding is not there,” Director Sundve told the council. “But we paid the medical direction for them and that’s where our training is supposed to come out of. Now I bring your guys attention to that because supposedly there’s no money for it. So some of the people that are working I had to find continued education for them to do online in order to keep their certifications up to date because our South Central EMS funding is not there right now.”
“Where’s the money that we paid?” Councilperson Loren Skelton asked.
“I don’t know,” Director Sundve responded. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to Mark [from South Central EMS] yet.”
“Is that money specifically earmarked for training?” Councilperson Jason Casey asked.
“For training purposes, yes,” Sundve answered. “That’s why we pay the medical direction... I still got some digging to do.”
“It seems pretty simple,” Skelton retorted. “A phone call.”
“I gotta talk to Mark about why the fundings not there when we pay,” Sundve said.
“I think you go higher up than talking to Mark,” Councilperson Neitzel interjected. He later directed Sundve who to speak with.
“I don’t wanna discuss too much,” Sundve responded. “I’ll discuss that with you at another time since you’re on the [ambulance] committee.”