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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/15/1975CITY 0FAPPLEVALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota May 15, 1975 Minutes of a special emergency City Council meeting held May 15, 1975, at 5:00 p~m. set at the regular Council meeting of May 14th, 1975, for the purposeof review- ing ambulance service based on a May 14th~ 1975~ letter from Dakota Community Health Center indicating ambulance service would terminate at midnight May 15, 1975. PRESENT: Mayor Largen; Councilmen Branning and Holton; Clerk Asleson. ABSENT: Councilmen Garrison and Hayes. Mayor Largen called the meeting to order at 5:07 p.m. Attorney McMenomy reported he had met with Tom Pederson, Administrator of the Health Center, today and commented on the organization of the medical center, the fact that the doctors have been trying to obtain long term financing for the building and subsidizing the ambulance ~service. Mr. Pederson told Mr. McMenomy there were about 35 volunteers involved as drisers for the ambulance service. Mr. McMenomy believed the salaryquestion for the volunteers should be looked at more closely, and maybe they could work without pay.~ Mr. Pederson said he' would discuss operating the service on a strictly volunteer basis temporarily with the doctors and if they agreed, would write to the volunteers~ asking them to volunteer their time until some of the financial problems are somewhat overcome. - · Mr. McMenomy~ Who is on the Board of Directors of ganford Hospital, said he called Mr. Overbee of Sanford Hospital and asked him about the ambulance service. He said he felt it~ was good service and suggested they d.iscuss it at the next Board meeting to see if there is anything the Hospital could do to encourage continuation of the service. · Mr. McMenomy said the City was not given reasonable notice of termination of the ambulance service under the contract, The doctors also failed to live up to the contract by notoperating the ambulance service for five'years'. He feels the City definitely has a claim against the corporation, but the corporation may not be solvent. Councilman Holton asked if the doctors would continue to operate theservice. Mr. McMenomy said he believed if the volunteers would not be paid, they would operate it because the costs would be cut condiserably. Councilman Branning asked about other ccmmunities b~ing contacted to provide subsidies and siad he feels more could have been done. Sandy Luedtke said Mr. Pederson called her today and said he was contacting the attendants scheduled to work during the next 24 to 48 hours to see if they would work without pay and was sending letters to them also. Carl Wirtanen was asked how long he thought the attendants would work without pay. He said they had not really discussed any specific time~ but maybe three months although they hoped it would not be long. Mr. Pederson called Mr. McMenomy during the meeting (5:30 p.m.) and informed him the doctors have authorized him to ask the attendants to work without pay and con- tinue to operate the service temporarily. CITY OF APPLE VALLEY Dakota County, Minnesota May 15, 1975 Page - 2 Councilman Holton commented on joint powers operation of the ambulance service as one solution. Mr. Asleson said Apple Valley did not previously pursue subsidies for the service from other communities because the City did not feel it was its responsibility. Councilman Holton also cmmented on the rates charged by the ambulance service and said he previously suggested they be increase. Mr. McMenomy said he believed the doctors would continue to operate the service if funds, from whatever source, were made available for it. He also commented on the background of Sanford Hospital and.said~it does have an interest in seeing the ambulance service continue, but probably could not provide the financing itself. Paul Schmadebeck of Community Cab Company said his office is located next to Smith Miller Ambulance's at Cliff Road and they can be here in seven minutes. In August they will be located at the Ridges in Burnsville. He said there are existing ambulance companys available who would like to provide service to this area. He said he had attempted to buy both ~llen's and Franke's Ambulance Services when they were going out of business and presently operates ambulances in Evanston, Illinois. He believes he could put ambulance service in Apple Valley in 48 hours with a staff. He said no well-managed ambulance service should need such a large subsidy. There are many other ambulance services that could cover this area. He said emergency runs do not make money for ambulance services, but patient transfers are the lucrative part of the business. He said he would like to serve this area and almost anyone in the business would be willing to buy Apple Valley's ambulance. Mayor Largen asked Councilman Holton to review some of the points Mr. Schmadebeck brought up. He said they discussed private ownership in looking at some of the alternatives, but the decision that must be made is, does the City want to exercise its option and buy the service or allow the clinic to sell it to someone else~ Mr. Asleson asked Mr. Schmadebeck how private ambulance services become certified and get certificates of need. He said there are several certificates of need open now because some ambulance services have gone out of business. He said nonprofit operations do not need certificates of need only private operators. Mr. Asleson asked why no private operators expressed an interest in providing ambulance service a year ago when Apple Valley was discussing buying the ambulance. He said at that time a large out of state ambulance service was buying up smaller operators and there were uncertainties as to what kind of equipment might be required in vehicles since the Legislature was proposing to require heart equipment in ambulances. It was decided to discuss this matter further at the meeting of May 21st. The ambulance service will continue for the time being with the volunteers. MOTION: of Branning, seconded by Holton, to adjourn. Ayes - ~ - Nays - 0. The meeting was adjourned at 6:07 p.m.