Ambulance district to replace aging vehicles

VCAD director Leland Splitter, right, presents board chairperson Mark Humphrey, left, a plaque thanking him for his service to the district first as a first responder and later as member of the board. Humphrey will leave VCAD next month after having chosen not to seek reelection.

Replacing an ambulance and missing financial reports were the center of discussion at Vernon County Ambulance District's monthly meeting Thursday evening.

"I think we're past nickel and dime," director Leland Splitter said in regards to maintenance costs of Medic 3.

Medic 3 and Medic 4 are identical ambulances bought in 2009 to be used primarily to transport patients between Nevada Regional Medical Center and other facilities such a Mercy hospital in Joplin. Both ambulances have now been driven more than 200,000 miles.

Splitter said the district is spending an increasing amount of money keeping both Medic 3 and Medic 4 in service. Adding to the cost is a failing turbo on Medic 3's engine. A replacement turbo will cost between $2,500 and $3,300.

Splitter said the current value of Medic 3 if the district were to sell it would be approximately $5,000. Mounting Medic 3's patient compartment on a new chassis was not an option due to damage caused when the ambulance was hit from the rear by another vehicle.

In light of the district's mounting maintenance costs for Medic 3 and as an interim measure until the district can purchase a new ambulance, Splitter suggested purchasing a used 2010 model ambulance from American Response Vehicles that has half of the miles driven by the current Medic 3.

The board voted unanimously to spend not more than $22,000 to purchase the 2010 Ford E-450 ambulance if it meets expectations upon inspection.

Splitter said the district has been notified by The Office of the Missouri State Auditor that the district has not filed the required financial reports since 2007. The information for the 2015-16 report was mistakenly sent to the Missouri Ethics Commission twice, instead of being sent to the State Auditor.

Splitter said the State Auditor's office requested the 2015-16 report as soon as possible and will allow the district time to submit the previous year's reports.

The district's financial records from the previous administration are incomplete or not in the district's possession.

"There is a lot we have not found," Splitter said regarding the district's financial records.

The district has two options moving forward. Option one would engage the district's accounting firm, Cory Gayman's CPA Firm to complete and submit the reports required by the State Auditor using information from the district's annual financial audit. Option two would add reconstruction of the district's financial records as completely as possible.

The board unanimously approved spending not more than $7,200 to have The CPA Firm generate and submit the required reports and reconstruct the district's financial records in QuickBooks.