Improvements made to Falls County EMS Coverage

The Commissioners of Falls County Rural Emergency Services District #1 met Dec. 13 at the Marlin Volunteer Fire Department with Bill Range presiding. Board members present were Jace Albright, Sandra Weathers, and new Commissioners Wesley Rolan and Tracy Dimerson.

Election of vacant board positions resulted in Wesley Rolan as Vice President and Tracy Dimerson, Secretary. Rolan will assist the current Treasurer, Sandra Weathers, with the ESD-1 financial management.

Working for better response time and a second ambulance, the board voted to accept the 911 agreement between Falls County Emergency Services Districts 1, 2, and 3 and the City Ambulance Service for Emergency Medical Services at $838,800 per year and paid on a monthly basis. It is understood that only City Ambulance will bill patients for the service and the three ESDs will not impose any surcharges or fees to the patients. Uninsured residents will be billed for rendered services. 

The compensation responsibility per district is ESD #1 - $520,894.80, ESD #2 - $137,563.20 and ESD #3  -$180,342. The new agreement is subjected to 6 percent increase every year. Jan. 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2024,11:59 pm, is the effective agreement date.

Joshua Zigal, Vice President of Business Development and 911, was present to address questions and concerns. Within the City Ambulance jurisdiction, City Ambulance agrees to provide a Full-Time Ambulance Unit staged in Marlin, 24 hours, seven days a week and a Part-time Ambulance Unit staged in Rosebud, serving all three ESDs 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

In other agenda matters, PHI Flight October and November dispatch records were reported. Bill Range moved to approve the minutes for the Nov. 21 meeting. Seconded by Jace Albright, the motion carried. Wesley Rolan moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report, seconded by Bill Range, motion carried. Jace Albright moved the payment of bills, seconded by Bill Range, motion carried.