Board approves payment plan, public raises concerns

SEELEY LAKE – At the Nov. 16 meeting, the Seeley Lake Fire Board approved negotiating a payment plan with a patient who is unable to pay their ambulance bill, received updates from Chief Dave Lane and heard concerns from members of the public.

Lane presented the board with a request for assistance from a patient that was transported in the ambulance and cannot pay their bill. The individual does not have health insurance and demonstrated their inability to pay, however, he still feels patients need to be responsible adults and pay their fair share. After receiving a letter asking for relief, he asked the board for their approval to work with the patient on a solution that would benefit both parties.

Lane explained that normally unpaid bills would be turned into collections after 90 days. There are currently several accounts in collections right now that typically would recover seven to eight percent. However, Lane said he encourages patients that may have a hard time paying their bill to talk with him so they can reach a solution.

“We are not trying to make money off of it, it is just that we need to keep our operations going. It is not fair for people to think that they can use our service free of cost. We don’t have the ability to do that today,” Lane said. “We are a volunteer department, however, we still have to pay for fuel, my wages, insurance on the vehicles and repair…”

Lane explained they charge a base fee for ambulance use and then additional fees so they can collect revenue that is used to support the operations including training, equipment and vehicle maintenance.

This call is $1,600-$1,700 with base rate and mileage. Lane’s plan for this situation would be to have the patient make monthly payments for a year. If all payments are made on time, without deviation, then they can reduce the fee by 50% and the bill will be considered paid in full. If the individual was late or missed a payment, then they will be sent to collections for the full amount. Lane said if they recover 50% of the bill, all of the cost incurred by the District would be covered.

“I think that gives them an opportunity to make good on their debt to us and the community,” Lane said.

Trustee Jon Kimble suggested the Chief start discussing a payment plan for the full amount and then negotiate down if necessary. The board unanimously approved giving the Chief the latitude to negotiate a payment plan with the patient down to 50% of the bill.

In the Chief’s report, Lane said compared to last year they were down one call for the month of October. However, year-to-date they are up 60 calls.

They are bringing on two new members and he has yet to receive any applicants for the paid firefighter/paramedic or firefighter/EMT position. When asked, the Chief clarified that he is recruiting to establish a list for the paid position since the board has not approved the position.

The Department hosted the preschool class from SLE and served them pancakes, talked about smoke alarm safety, showed them a firefighter dressed in all his gear and let them tour the apparatuses. The Department also received several thank you letters from people who appreciated their service, congratulated them on their new members and thanked them for participating in the SSHS Homecoming Parade.

During public comment, Shirley Goudzwaard, who has been attending board meetings regularly for several years now, questioned the board about why there is not more discussion during the meetings.

“I’ve never been to a board meeting with the responsibilities that is in this department that our board meetings last only three minutes,” Goudzwaard said.

She had several other concerns asking about the criteria for membership on the Department, why someone would not be allowed to return as a volunteer and asked the board if they question why someone would not be allowed to serve on the Department.

“You are supposed to be our representative in our town. We depend upon you to be there for us because that is why you were elected onto the board,” Goudzwaard said. “I personally feel Scott and Dave basically run the show. Who do you answer to? I don’t see [the board] communicate with each other.”

Goudzwaard’s final concern was reading that the cause of the structure fire on Tamarack Drive was suspicious but it was not further investigated.

Chair Scott Kennedy told Goudzwaard that the board does not intervene in operations. The Chief has the authority to hire, fire and run operations.

“I would recommend that you sit down with the chief since you seem to have a lot of questions about how personnel are hired, terminated or otherwise. That is not our role here as a board,” Kennedy said. “We hire the chief. We have the same information you do. I do communicate with the Chief extensively. We cannot communicate as a board outside because that would be convening a meeting and we can’t do that.”

Seeley Lake resident Kristy Pohlman asked if the hiring and firing authority has changed since the terminations made by the interim chief when he served from November 2017 – April 2018. At that time, the board chair sent out at least one letter of correspondence regarding a volunteer’s status on the Department.

Lane said the amendment to the board by-laws approved at the June board meeting gave the Chief the authority to hire, fire, promote and assign personnel.

Kennedy clarified that the Chief answers to the board and the board can evaluate anything that happens in the Department for merit, “but we are not going to tell him how to run his operation.”

Kennedy recommended anyone that has a complaint follow the chain of command and talk to the Chief first. Then, if they feel they need to pursue it further, they can file a complaint with the board.

Requests to be put on the board agenda should also be sent to the Chief first. However, if the response is not satisfactory, Kennedy said they can ask him.

“If I believe it warrants it, we will put it on the agenda,” he said.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Seeley Lake Fire Hall, 200 Firehouse Lane. For the agenda and other announcements visit seeleyfire.org