June 26, 2023 at 2:14 p.m.
Arbor Vitae town board talks Oneida County ambulance contract
Bauers: Only two ways to cover rising costs, Vilas County creates own service or go to referendum
By By Trevor Greene-
Town chairman Frank Bauers started the discussion by stating that he "didn't like the amount" being proposed.
"Almost double," he said. "And the year before that, we were (around) $80,000."
Bauers said it never made much sense for the town to create its own ambulance service given its close proximity to local healthcare centers in Minocqua.
"What I'm looking to do is getting it all a line item in our budget," he said. "Because, right now, we're talking about 18 percent of our total budget going towards ambulance appropriations."
One way to get the high cost of ambulance services off the town's budget is to have Vilas County's assistance in some way, Bauers said.
"But they can't do it because they don't have an ambulance association," he said. "I think everyone's read in the paper where Presque Isle, Winchester, Boulder Junction and Manitowish Waters is going to start an ambulance association."
Those four towns can then put ambulance costs on their tax rolls for the county to collect, "and it won't be on the towns' budgets," Bauers noted.
But for Arbor Vitae, Bauers said the only way it can continue its ambulance service right now is to keep it in the town's budget.
Aspirus Health's regional 911 manager Scott Langa and regional director for Aspirus MedEvac Bob Kirkley attended the meeting.
Langa said he was shocked himself when he learned about the price increases Oneida County is proposing to out-of-county towns who rely on its ambulance services.
Town supervisor Ashley Roach asked Langa if Aspirus' costs have increased "that much" to justify Oneida County's proposal.
Langa confirmed Aspirus' costs have gone up. He then explained three different "agreements" which were offered to Oneida County from Aspirus Health - the most expensive of the three, which was "insisted on" by Oneida County officials, costing $2.2 million.
The first agreement offered, Langa said, was a "continuation" of what Aspirus and Oneida County have done previously, and was billed based on a "true-up of net expenses" at the end of the year.
He said the second offer included a fixed cost with a price similar to his department's projected annual budget of $1.6 million, with the caveat that if Aspirus wasn't able to staff an ambulance unit it could "redistribute its resources" when needed.
The third offer, which Langa again said Oneida County officials "insisted on," was for all six of the county's emergency medical service (EMS) "bases" to be staffed 24-hours a day, seven days a week with an emergency medical technician and paramedic minimum "no matter the cost."
For that to be possible, Langa said the $2.2 million is needed to cover his department's costs of incentives and overtime.
Langa also indicated Oneida County's ordering of four new ambulances played a part in the proposed service cost increases, as well.
"We know medical costs have gone up, but the main thing is to get it off of our town budget," Bauers said. "Because if it's taking up 18 percent of our budget, that's a lot for our town."
He said he thinks there's only two ways towns in Vilas County can have proper ambulance service and fiscally "survive" at the same time - have Vilas County start its own ambulance association and collect the taxes or pass a referendum.
Roach mentioned her concerns with regard to the cost increases being proposed compared to the services the town is actually receiving.
"There has been many, many times where we're not getting that ambulance that we need and the time that we need it," she said. "With the raise in rate and the ambulances being busier and busier, how can we guarantee that we're going to be getting these ambulances when we need them, where we need them?"
Langa noted there is a "nationwide" shortage of EMS workers. He said his department is down 14 positions from being fully staffed, "and we are not getting applicants."
Roach asked Langa and Kirkley if there is "any leeway" with Oneida County's proposal.
Kirkley said he was also surprised when he heard about the price increase Oneida County is proposing for the out-of-county towns it services.
"I don't know how much they're gonna be able to change those figures, but it's out of Aspirus' control at this pont," he said.
Fire chief Mike Van Meter told Roach from what he was told at a meeting with Oneida County sheriff Grady Hartman, who is the negotiator on Oneida County's behalf, is that the proposed contract cost is "non-negotiable."
"But, they also, so you guys are aware, put the sole blame on Aspirus," Van Meter said. "100 percent (said) they were forced into a contract at $2.2 million by Aspirus. So it's good hear your guys' side of the story."
Langa said it's not Aspirus making decisions on what Oneida County charges towns, "it's Oneida County."
"That's funny," Bauers said. "That's the same line the sheriff used on me today when I talked to him."
Town supervisor Pamela Carroll asked if there is any way the state could help.
Bauers said he could contact state Rep. Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander) and Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma) and ask.
Lac du Flambeau town supervisor and Vilas County supervisor Bob Hanson said the idea of Vilas County helping with ambulance services is something he thinks will be come up again.
He said he previously worked on a county ad hoc committee that looked into the formation of a county-wide ambulance service "a few years ago."
"And we, at that time, did not have enough interest from enough towns," he said. "We had interest from a lot of towns, but not enough to really get it through. Now, we're getting feedback from the towns that were holdouts."
Vilas County supervisor Leah Trojan also attended the meeting.
She first asked if Arbor Vitae could be included in an effort currently being taken up by Manitowish Waters, Boulder Junction, Winchester and Presque Isle to create a four-town EMS district.
Bauers said he thought of that, but added it wouldn't work because of how far Arbor Vitae is from those four towns and the proposed location for the station near North Lakeland School.
"I'm thinking we're going to have to ask our taxpayers for a larger appropriation for ambulances on our referendum," Bauers said. "And still the town is going to have to pay two years because next year, if the referendum passes, we're not going to collect the taxes next year, it will be the following year."
Before asking her second question, Trojan said Oneida County can "push us around" because "they're not our county."
"Why are we going to Oneida County?" she asked. "It's a broader, bigger issue and, personally, I would like to see us get out of Oneida County. We are in Vilas County, why are we getting pushed around by Oneida County?"
Bauers said he agrees "100 percent."
"That's where my stance is," she said. "It should be a Vilas County issue dealing with Vilas County towns."
"I'm with ya," Hanson said.
Trevor Greene may be reached via email at trevorgreene@
lakelandtimes.com.
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