Supervisors discuss ambulance, approve retirement

VINTON — Anna DeMuth of Benton County Emergency Medical Services explained changes to an ambulance purchase to Benton County Supervisors during their regular meeting Dec. 23.

The payment schedule is spread over two years, DeMuth said.

DeMuth said North Benton led EMS call volume with 1,008, followed by Belle Plaine with 543 and Blairstown with 236.

Other services and first responders cover Atkins, Cedar/Mount Auburn, Garrison, Keystone, Newhall, Norway, Shellsburg, Urbana, Van Horne and Walford.

EMS is working on getting one set of clinical guidelines or protocols for all services, said DeMuth. There are 13 services in Benton County.

Dissecting 2024 call data of transporting services, DeMuth said that North Benton Ambulance carries the largest call volume by a wide margin, with Belle Plaine and Blairstown forming a second tier of demand. Atkins, Urbana, and Norway are the busiest first responder services, with Van Horne and Shellsburg closely following.

EMS had substantial carryover due to creation of a fiscal year budget worksheet and deciding how funds could be spent and completion time and delivery of ordered vehicles.

The most usage came from medical supplies and equipment, education and training and building and grounds maintenance.

Fiscal year 2025 fund usage

Ambulance — Remount for Belle Plaine and North Benton

Paramedic FlyCar- Blairstown Ambulance

Salaries, wages, stipends

Medical supplies and equipment

Lucas device (automated CPR device), cardiac monitors, ventilator

Initial training- EMR/EMT’s

Reserve fund for future vehicle purchase

Fiscal year 2026 fund usage

Vehicle acquisition

Equipment and medical supplies

Building maintenance and upgrades

Training and education

Reserve and emergency fund

Most services are allocating funds to the reserve for future vehicle acquisitions.

The EMS Association and services directors are working on clinical guidelines and a list of medications to be carried by first responders to align with a county-wide medical director.

Dr. Dan Kinker has agreed to be medical director for Benton County and the transport and non-transport services wishing to align with him. Nine of the 13 services are affiliated or becoming affiliated.

Transporting services continue to work on standardizing medical equipment and supplies while working together to provide training and education opportunities. The ongoing efforts will continue to strengthen the EMS system in Benton County.

The EMS advisory committee will have a meeting in January.

In other business, Supervisors approved vacation carryover for Sarah Wagner and accepted the resignation of Deb Cummings who has worked with secondary roads for five years.

Supervisors approved excess flood insurance for the sheriff’s office. The premium will increase by $300, but the policy gives more coverage.

The board worked on the 2027 budget before adjourning.

A department head meeting is planned for Monday, Jan. 5.