COMMISSIONERS MINUTES                                 JANUARY 11, 2008

A special session was held on the above date at the Elmore County Detention Center, 2255 East 8th North, Mountain Home, Idaho. The special session was the monthly meeting between the Elmore County Commissioners and the City of Mountain Home Elected Officials.

Present at the meeting were the Elmore County Commissioners, Chairman Arlie Shaw, Commissioners Larry Rose and Connie Cruser, City of Mountain Home Mayor Tom Rist, Mountain Home City Council members Rich Urquidi, Geoff Schroeder, and Alain Isaac.

A citizen in the audience asked about the financial status of the Ambulance District. Commissioner Rose answered the gentlemen and gave quotes of how much the ambulance district was spending and that the County had to subsidize the ambulance district last year in the amount of $60,000.00. The citizen wanted to know how much total was being spent per year by the Ambulance District as he represents one of the local fire districts. The citizen reported the Kuna Fire Department is making money on ambulance transports.

Another citizen stated the ambulance problem in Elmore County has been going on for over 30 years. Ambulance calls have increased. A solution needs to be found to provide Elmore County with a better ambulance service.

Another citizen who is on the Glenns Ferry Extrication Team, stated that when the Glenns Ferry ambulance transfers a patient from one ambulance to another, the patient is getting charged for both ambulances. Another complaint is having to jump start the ambulances in Glenns Ferry in the winter, they won’t start on their own. There was an incident in Glenns Ferry at the café, a gentlemen had a heart attack, the Glenns Ferry ambulance was out driving around showing a new employee the area. The gentlemen died.

An employee of Northwest Paramedic read a statement into the record. He has been a paramedic for approximately 10 years and gave a brief job history. He stated he was risking his job by speaking. He reported on bounced payroll checks, bounced expense checks, and patient care complaints. The employee explained the supplies in the ambulances are not up to standard. He believes it is time for change.

Commissioner Cruser stated the Commissioners asked for an emergency State EMS inspection last week and the ambulances passed the inspection.

A former Northwest Paramedic employee stated that before the inspections they had at least a one hour notice. Equipment that she owned was moved out of her vehicle and put on the ambulance, then removed after the inspection. Also the former employee stated they had times where they didn’t have gloves in the ambulances and were told to take a handful from the hospital when they were there.

Dr. Brininger spoke stating he was the medical director for the ambulance service when the County ran it, and then was the medical director with Northwest Paramedics Air Service. Dr. Brininger commented there have been a lot of good people who have worked for both entities, the facilities for the workers have improved, but he believes that the County should initiate a change for all the reasons that have been stated at this meeting. There are several different options. Dr. Brininger commented on the level of service the County wants for their ambulance service and liability of the provider.

Discussion followed on outlying areas and the volunteer ambulances. Another suggestion was to have a committee overseeing the ambulance service other than the three Commissioners.

There was further discussion of all the different stories being told in the community.

Chairman Shaw stated the bounced checks are a civil matter but they do reflect on the business.

Another citizen asked about the contract and violations. The citizen stated the ambulances do not have a full crew when they go on a call.

Discussion followed regarding a master plan for EMS services for Elmore County. Commissioner Cruser stated she had an appointment with the Elmore Medical Center the following Monday to work on a proposed Joint Study Elmore Medical Center stated they would do with the County.

General cleanup on property in the City and County and in the Area of Impact was discussed. Bonnie Sharp, Growth and Development Director and Noe Garza, Elmore County Code Enforcer, were present for the discussion. The City can lien property for expenses of cleanup, the County cannot. Mayor Rist stated he would phone Attorney Jerry Mason for further clarification.

Mayor Rist discussed impact fees that would be imposed on the County residents in the Area of City Impact. Chairman Shaw stated he had spoke with other Counties who were just getting started on imposing those fees.

Ms. Isaac reported on Mountain Home Air Force Base and the upcoming events. There will be an Operations Readiness Inspection in March of 2008. The main gate will be under construction in April of 2008 and will be closed for six months. The Singapore Air Force personnel will begin arriving in October of 2008, the aircraft in October 2009, and will be in place for approximately 20 years. The Air Force Base will hold Gunfighter Skies on Sept 13 and 14th of 2008 and the thunderbirds will be performing. Mayor Rist also stated the Main Gate will be closed during the Air Show. The State will be doing road construction on American Legion Boulevard around June for about 3 to 4 months and could possibly affect Air Force Appreciation day. Commissioner Cruser stated that Grandview Highway will also be under construction during that time frame.

The next joint meeting will be February 21, 2008.

The meeting adjourned.

/S/ ARLIE SHAW, Chairman
ATTEST: /S/ MARSA GRIMMETT, Clerk