With a turbulent 2014 in the rear-view mirror, the city-operated ambulance service is functioning well, Iola City Administrator Carl Slaugh said.
Issues remain, however, when it comes to staffing the fire and EMS departments.
With a new pact in place with Allen County, Slaugh said he’s ready to move on and make the Iola-operated Allen County Emergency Medical Service a more cooperative effort.
Slaugh told Iola City Council members Monday the service is financially sound and, “The year 2015 and beyond will help us to continue to operate smoothly.”
Slaugh noted the service’s year-end operating deficit of $288,000 was about $80,000 less than originally projected.
The deficit wound up small enough that Slaugh said he planned to forego asking the county for additional funds when he meets with Allen County commissioners this morning to provide the same year-end review.
As part of their renegotiated contract set last fall, the county agreed to pay one-half of the city’s 2014 EMS deficit. The county gave Iola $133,000, while agreeing to pay up to $53,000 more if necessary.
However, the remaining deficit was so small, the city would have asked only for about $8,000 more, Slaugh said.
“To me, I’d rather not go in and ask for $8,000,” Slaugh said. “We’ve got a good operation, and we’re going to make it better.”
SLAUGH and Iola Fire Chief Tim Thyer spoke about the largest ongoing challenge for the city — staffing vacancies and their effect on employee morale.
“Job security has been a big factor,” Slaugh said.
As the city and county went back and forth on attempts to renegotiate their contract last year, several firefighters and EMS crews were kept in limbo, Slaugh said.
As it stands, the EMS department has 26 employees, counting the fire chief, and could operate more efficiently with five more, Thyer said.
“Staffing levels should be at 31, including the fire chief,” Thyer said.
“Morale for the department is probably at an all-time low because of the need to fill vacant positions,” Thyer continued. “And frankly, no one wants to work them after they’ve put in 72 hours that week of regular time. The words ‘burnt out’ come to mind.”
Slaugh declined to give his opinion on staffing levels, other than to point out it would cost the city about $50,000 for each employee added to the Fire/EMS department in salaries, benefits and training.
“I don’t think we’d see enough decrease in vacancy overtime to offset that amount,” Slaugh said, although he conceded it would make scheduling easier.
COUNCIL members visited with Thyer and Ryan Sell, EMS director, about ways to entice prospective employees.
Slaugh noted the council’s vote last year to increase pay for paramedics, EMTs and firefighters — part of its citywide pay scale adjustment — should help.
“Are we competitive?” Councilman Steve French asked.
“The pay is getting there,” Sell responded.
Councilman Jon Wells thanked the firefighters “for bearing with us and the county. Chief Thyer and Ryan Sell helped steer this merger, which was no small feat. The taxpayers of Allen County and Iola are going to see the results.”
IN OTHER business, the Council asked Slaugh to come back at their next meeting with varying electric rate hike proposals.
Slaugh has encouraged the city to consider rate hikes or higher meter charges to help replenish the city’s electric fund reserves, which have dropped considerably in recent years. For years, the city has used its utility reserves to supplement its general fund, recreation department and provide other economic development incentives.
The city transferred a total of $2.5 million last year in electric reserves.
Slaugh noted 2014’s transfers included purchases of EPA-mandated upgrades to the city’s natural gas and diesel generators.
Nominal increases in either electric rates or meter charges would still keep Iola lower than what Westar or Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative customers would pay, Slaugh said.
He recommended the Council opt for a rate-meter package that generates an additional $300,000 annually.
The council can then take another look at its reserves at the end of the year, Slaugh said, to see if they can be reduced.
“Should we go through the trouble of raising our rates for the people of our community, or should we find some ways to quit spending so much money?” Mayor Joel Wicoff asked. “At home, sometimes it’s easier to quit spending money.”
The city operates its electric department efficiently, Slaugh responded. He noted Iola pays its Electric Department employees significantly less than utility companies such as Westar.
