Light agenda for VCAD directors

In what might have been a record short 30-minute meeting Thursday evening, the Vernon County Ambulance District board of directors — after the perfunctory approval of the past meeting’s minutes, the financial statements and bills — dealt with the only two items of business on the agenda, bank account signatories and the annual fiscal audit.

With the recent resignation of board chairperson Mike Harris, the board needed to update who among them could sign payroll and operating checks as well as bank loans for the district. In two unanimous votes, chairperson Coeta Smith, treasurer Chris Mason and board member Jeanne Baldwin were designated the district’s signatories.

Also on the agenda was approval of a letter of engagement bid for the district’s annual fiscal audit. The board unanimously approved the only firm to submit a bid, D.S.W.A. Certified Public Accountants at a cost not to exceed $7,850 with the work to be completed by September 25, 2018.

In his report to the board, director Leland Splitter said the district’s maintenance costs remain high due mostly to problems with the emissions systems on the newer ambulances. The district has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency to be able to remove those systems and is awaiting a decision.

While discussing the district’s financials, Splitter said they have not yet received the bill for the petition audit from the Missouri State Auditor’s Office. The amount owed is estimated at $50,000.

He also reported that Medic 4, the district’s new ambulance — albeit with a refurbished patient compartment — is in Columbia, Mo. awaiting decaling.

In June, the district responded to 99 emergency calls for service four of which resulted in direct transfers to Joplin or Kansas City and six patients were flown from the scene by medical helicopter. The district conducted 36 inter-facility transfers and 12 lift assists. With several miscellaneous calls added in, the district recorded 196 calls for service in June, down slightly from May’s 209. With the number of inter-facility transfers down, year-to-date the district has recorded 2,426 calls for service by the end of June, down from last year’s 2,556 for the same time period.