Ambulance fees to increase beginning April 1

The Kimball County Commissioners unanimously approved an increase in fees for the county's ambulance service at Tuesday's regularly scheduled meeting.

Carla Goranson, county ambulance director, said the increase was needed to cover the cost of operating the service. She said the cost of an average call to the ambulance service is $938.20. However, Medicare only reimburses the service $260 per call, leaving the county to lose money if paid for through that program. Goranson said 58 percent of ambulance runs in the county is covered by Medicare. Other insurance companies pay a higher rate.

"We do need to raise our rates significantly, because as they are we're not covering expenses," said Kim Schildhauer of the ambulance service.

Most fees assessed by the ambulance service will see some increase beginning April 1.

The cost for a basic life support (BLS) non-emergency transport will increase from $519.75 to $938.20 beginning April 1, while the cost of a BLS emergency transport will increase from $814.80 to $1,285.33.

Advanced life support (ALS) non-emergency calls will go from $599.55 to $1,097.69. ALS emergency one calls go from $968.10 to $1,379.15, while ALS emergency two calls go from $1,399.65 to $1,538.65.

Specialty care transport remains the same at $1,622.25, while mileage increases slightly from $18.90 per mile to $19.50 per mile.

One new charge will be assess and release with no transport, which will now be $100.

Also figured into the fee increase is enough funds to purchase a new ambulance, which will be paid out over five years. A new ambulance will cost at least $200,000.

Part of the reason the fees are so high is because the county is very rural.

"The more rural the area, the higher the rates," Schildhauer said. "You still have the same maintenance on the vehicle, but you have to do it at 30 calls instead of their 30 calls per day. So our rates, on a couple of them, are a little bit higher than their range (of current industry rates), but not much."

Goranson said the increase in rates will also lower the funds needed from the county's taxpayers.

"The cost to the taxpayer, we are very conscious of that, so how we can lower our reliance on taxpayer dollars is to raise our rates so that the insurances help support the service," Goranson said.

The commissioners also unanimously approved a conditional use permit for Pine Bluffs Gravel & Excavating, Inc., to mine minerals on 40 acres north of Bushnell owned by Todd Parsons.

During a public hearing prior to the vote, some concerns were raised about road conditions, truck routes and runoff.

Dave Hottell, county highway supervisor, said he has spoken with Toby Kimzey of Pine Bluffs Gravel & Excavating and said Kimzey is aware of road issues in the area. Hottell said he would be concerned if the company used County Road 17. Hottell added that Kimzey has been "good to work with" in the past as far as the missile roads go.

Hottell said some things need to be fixed on County Road 44, and hoped that the company would work with the county to make improvements there.

"We would be receptive to meeting with you on that," said Lonny Graves of Pine Bluffs Gravel & Excavating.

Hottell added that Kimzey agreed to keep up the haul roads.

Graves gave a very "vague" projection of two to five years needed for the project, but said that is a ballpark figure and will depend on the minerals there and what other jobs the company has.

Parsons said the land will be reclaimed once the project is finished, and Graves said the company will do all it can to mitigate runoff.

The commissioners also:

- Heard Ken Hunter of Kimball Health Services report that things are going well. He said KHS will at least break even but could make as much as $300,000 this year.

- Received a report from Sheriff Harry Gillway that stated the department received 20,979 calls for service in 2014. The department made 217 arrests, served 518 civil papers and issued 85 gun permits.

- Approved electrical and data work for up to $6,700 in the county clerk of district court's office.

- Tabled an interlocal agreement for a change in the position in the county extension office while seeking more information from Cheyenne County.

- Approved the purchase of small trailer for the highway department at a cost of $700.