Land Purchase
After an 18-year career with the Barren-Metcalfe Emergency Medical Service, Sammy Stotts retired as of Friday, August 30th. Dr. Middlton presented Mr. Stotts with an award in honor of his 18 years of service to the community with the ambulance service. Photo by PJ Martin
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Barren-Metcalfe County Emergency Medical Services Board of Directors met on August 28th at the TJ Samson Community Center. The only person absent was Metcalfe Judge/Executive Larry Wilson.
Finance Report
Unlike the regular bi-monthly meetings, one meeting was canceled so the last four months of financial reports were presented by Executive Secretary/Treasurer Shawn Estes.
In April, the total adjusted receipts equaled $514,672 with total adjusted expenses equaling $558,731. April was left with an income deficit of $44,060.
In May, total cash adjusted receipts equaled $541,029 with total adjusted expenses equaling $558,323. May was left with an income deficit of $17,294.
In June, total cash adjusted receipts equaled $509,470 with total adjusted expenses equaling $512,274.
June was left with an income deficit of $2,804.
June was also the fiscal year end. YTD receipts equaled $6,541,022 with YTD expenses of $6,589,100 for a year end income deficit of $48,079. Estes pointed out the reasons for the previous year’s deficit, “We had an unbudgeted expense of an ambulance purchase. So that’s in that number. We paid off all of our debt in this fiscal year and we added a new crew in this year as well. So, even though we had that loss, we were able to pay for that loss out of reserves. We didn’t ask the partners for any additional funding.”
The new FY began July 1st. July’s total adjusted receipts equaled $566,990 with total adjusted expenses equaling $541,266, for a net income of $25,723.
The year end cash available as of June 30, 2024, was listed as $1,422,304.73. As of July 31, 2024, the cash available was listed as $1,448,028.07.
Operations Reports
Executive Director Joe Middleton presented the operations reports with April having a total of 833 runs, May having 953 runs, and June having 865 runs for a YTD of 5,581 That is 280 more runs for FY24 than FY23. July had a total of 911 runs with Barren at 762 and Metcalfe at 149. The average response time is 10 minutes and 19 seconds.
Middleton also presented the response report sorted by Fire Dept. District and volume by BMEMS Station for June and July.
Old Business
Middleton stated that the next new ambulance to replace #511 picked up will already have the striping package installed and that the new vinyl wrap will have more reflective quality than previously. The next three ambulances are due in December 2025.
An arrangement is in process with Enterprise to possibly sell or trade older vehicles through them to receive a better resale value.
New Business
Kentucky (and other states) created legislation to help reduce healthcare workforce shortages like those that occurred in 2023. The legislation resulted in HB200 The Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund which is a public-private partnership that helps with healthcare training scholarships.
Those eligible to apply for this fund are healthcare training entities such as the Barren-Metcalfe EMS which has training programs for EMTs and Paramedics. The program is a 50/50 funds match and the money must be used by FY 2029-2030.
Middle explained, “We did apply for this grant. Our plan is to use that money as a match for potentially more money…. we’re gonna take $47,778 of local money and they’re gonna send us a match for a total of 95,556 dollars in this account to use toward the education of Paramedics.”
The local money is a combination of the workforce funds, a repayment, and ambulance service money instead of using the budgeted training funds. The board approved the use of funds for training.
Other Business
One item was not on the agenda, Operations Manager Sammy Stotts who began with the BMEMS in 2006 as an EMT, progressed to Paramedic, then to supervisor, and has spent the last year and a half as Operations Manager retired as of Friday, August 30, 2024. Middleton presented Stotts with an award for his 18 years of service with the ambulance service.
A brief closed session resulted in no action being taken; however, once back in open session, the board voted to allow Attorney Brian Pack to carry out the purchase of a 1.38-acre piece of property located near the Haywood Volunteer Fire Department for the amount of $100,000. This is another step toward building individual stations in the communities where they can better serve the communities.
The next meeting is scheduled for October 23, 2024, at 4 p.m. at TJ Samson Community Center.
