Cole County Commission OKs EMS equipment purchases

A Cole County ambulance responds to a call in Jefferson City. (News Tribune file photo)
A Cole County ambulance responds to a call in Jefferson City. (News Tribune file photo)

The Cole County Commission has approved more equipment purchase requests for the Cole County Emergency Medical Service, but commissioners said Tuesday they want to make sure the service stays within its budget.

In this year's budget, the commission approved nearly $1.1 million for capital improvements for EMS. This money goes to pay for equipment and supplies for the ambulances and does not include money to purchase ambulances.

The items approved Tuesday included $16,999 for 12 infusion pumps and $1,709 for six child safety restraints.

EMS Chief Matt Lindewirth said the infusion pumps will allow for better treatment of sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to an infection. Early treatment of sepsis, usually with antibiotics and large amounts of intravenous fluids, improves chances for survival.

The child safety restraints are to be used when the ambulances transport juvenile patients to a hospital.

Lindewirth said the service requested to use these funds during the first four months of the year because it often takes a long time to get the items in. They were able to negotiate reductions in prices with some vendors, he added. Lindewirth noted they have had to make adjustments in what they originally thought they would use some capital funds for due to new safety requirements and protocol for EMS services.

Last month, the commission approved EMS using more than $110,000 in capital funds for three cardiac monitors and $59,386 for cellular data wireless access.

After Tuesday's purchases, there is $234,822 left in the EMS capital budget for the rest of the year.

"I get it that you have to have equipment, but some of these items can be moved from ambulance to ambulance," Western District Commissioner Kris Scheperle said. "I know we have ambulances that have to be taken out of service for repairs and maintenance, so we can do that. I want to keep track of the spending because we may have to cancel some items if the money gets tight."

All three commissioners voted to approve Tuesday's EMS equipment purchases.

Also Tuesday, the County Commission approved the purchase of new equipment for the county Public Works Department after a busy winter.

Commissioners approved the purchase of a tandem dump truck from Scheppers International Truck Center for $91,421. This vehicle primarily will be used to haul rock and material, but it can be used for clearing roads in snowstorms as well.

The commission also approved the purchase of two new beds to be placed on current trucks. The combined cost for the two was $90,600. Henderson Bed and Knapheide will put in the beds. They will have the ability to spread material and both trucks will be used to remove snow.

In closed session, citing computer security issues under the state's Sunshine Law, commissioners approved spending an estimated $36,000 to purchase computer software and hardware to improve the county's HIPAA compliance regarding patients' medical records. The cost is to be split between the county health and EMS departments.

Property clean-up extension granted

In other action Tuesday, commissioners granted a landowner 30 additional days to clean up a property in Osage City.

The property in the 9000 block of Osage Front Street is on the back side of the Jefferson City Correctional Center property. County Code Enforcement Officer Mike Sapp they had gotten complaints about the property since last year.

Through November, the owner of the property, Mike Morgan, had made progress on cleaning the place up, Sapp said, but the progress apparently stopped around the start of the year. Two old, abandoned mobile homes remain on the property, along with solid waste storage and some tires.

Morgan told commissioners he is in a drug treatment program. He doesn't live in the property but works full time and takes classes at night, he said, and with a little more time he believes he can have some of his fellow classmates help clean up the rest of the property.

The commission agreed, but said if there wasn't significant progress shown then after 30 days, then another abatement hearing would take place.