DC Ambulance looks to recoup costs
As communities part of the Dodge Center Ambulance Primary Service Area continue to discuss and debate what a Taxing District may look like, the Dodge Center City Council has made clear it expects to recoup some funds from cities who rely on its service, not part of the Taxing District.
As it stands now, the Primary Service Area includes Claremont, Mantorville, Kasson, and Dodge Center.
Since January the city of West Concord has utilized the Dodge Center Ambulance to provide an ambulance service to its community Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. due to West Concord losing two of its longtime volunteers. Despite an effort to hire two full-time EMTS for day shifts, the efforts have been unsuccessful.
Under the current agreement West Concord provides no funding to Dodge Center and instead the Dodge Center Ambulance is allowed to bill for any calls they go on.
Similarly there is an agreement in place with Hayfield as well, where they cover for the department from time to time.
“They advise us ahead of time when they will not have a staffed ambulance and we provide coverage from Dodge Center for them,” Dodge Ambulance Director AJ Gengler wrote in an email.
Dodge Center City Administrator Lee Mattson said the idea of charging an hourly rate now, is to make it fair to other communities should a Taxing District be formed.
In an email Mattson noted the council agreed to move forward with the proposal.
“The Council did give notice that they intend to charge $34/hour for coverage outside our primary service area starting December 1,” he wrote.
Hourly Rate
During a recent Dodge Center City Council meeting, council members were briefed on a proposal from the administration about what the fee schedule should be.
It was explained by Mattson, that based on the State’s calculation it would cost $34 an hour to replace a volunteer with a paid employee.
“In West Concord, this is essentially what the city is attempting to do,” Mattson wrote. “If we were to charge this to West Concord, staff estimates that we would bill just over $100,000 a year.”
He said their estimates are that West Concord would have to pay about $90,000 a year for the two full-time employees the city is attempting to hire.
“If West Concord does hire staff, Dodge Center’s coverage would likely be in the minimal to none range,” Mattson wrote. “Staff feels this approach has much to commend it for a one to two-year agreement. Total revenues between the hourly rate and the run revenue would likely be $135,000 from West Concord and $65,000 from Hayfield over a full year. That represented a huge investment for West Concord and a significant contribution from Hayfield.”
However, Mattson said the city expects Hayfield to need less coverage than what was calculated, “and hopes that West Concord similarly does not require a full year of coverage.”
“This would bring total revenues down,” Mattson wrote.
As part of the agreement, Dodge Center Ambulance would continue to be able to bill for any calls they go on as the primary ambulance.
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