Ambulance service in need of additional trained personnel
City Administrator Mike Fairchild distributed a tentative drawing for a new ambulance facility to the Littlefork City Council Thursday. The plans for an addition to the Littlefork Fire Hall were prepared by architect Jim Cowgill who had recently visited the site with Fairchild and ambulance service director Tom Donahou.
The council approved retaining Cowgill at an approximate total architectural fee of $2,000.
Donahou was in attendance and reported 11 service runs for July, and six in August to date. He also told the board that the service is in need of up to seven more emergency technicians. He said he was aware of a scheduled EMT training class in International Falls and hopes to find some interested individuals to take the required course.
The organizational documents for the ambulance service have yet to be finalized but Fairchild told the board that the service’s medical director, Dr. Jay Knaak, had recently approved a tentative document. Councilor Glenn Weigold, who has consistently questioned some of the staffing determinations for the service, was still seeking answers. Weigold’s main concerns appear to be about clarifying the staffing recommendations that in some situations call for two EMTs and for other events call for three EMTs. Weigold asked the council and Donahou under what standards this was this based. Mayor Shane Williams thought every ambulance service had different guidelines.
Donahou offered his understanding: “It’s saying that two may be OK, but in some circumstances three may be better, and in the best interests of the patient,” he said.
The council agreed that Donahou should get more definition on the matter from Knaak.
In other business, County Commissioner Wade Pavleck and wife Carol Pavleck were in attendance, offering a general discussion.
Pavleck asked the council if they were aware of a recent report seen in The Daily Journal regarding a special meeting between the Koochiching Economic Development Authority and the city of International Falls.
“The KEDA is a county-wide agency and everyone should be there,” Pavleck said. “All cities should be represented — at least invited.”
In other matters, Pavleck discussed the UT 168 road which Littlefork residents are requesting to be paved. With an estimated county cost of $95,000, Pavleck reminded the council that lately the county hasn’t been funding the paving of any of its own roads and that “dollars will be hard to come by” and that it will be “tough sledding the next two years.” Although the county is noted to have reserves, Pavleck cautioned that timber revenue is down, the state budget shortfall is huge, and that the Koochiching Development Authority revenue has been predicted to be cut in half by next year.
But Pavleck agreed with the council that the next discussion on paving UT 168 should be with county engineer Doug Grindall.
On a more positive financial note, Fairchild reported to the council that the city’s General Fund was up, Legal Government Aid was increased slightly, the municipal liquor store was $36,000 ahead of last year, the water and sewer fund was prospering from the recently implemented small rate increases, and the ambulance service profits were up $30,000 to date over last year.
Fairchild gave the council a Wisconsin company’s $19,536 estimate for a new fiberglass statue of “Jackpine Savage.” He suggested that the mascot be funded by $15,000 in KDA funds still unused, a personal donation offered, and the remainder by fund raisers. He said he had not received any public input for suggestions on the replacement. The council requested that Fairchild get a second estimate from another company to present at the next regular meeting.
Littlefork City Council News Notes
• The Littlefork City Council heard from former Mayor Jerry Anderson who was in attendance Monday that he thought the recent reductions to $500 in annual liquor license fees offered to some entities should apply to his restaurant business as well. The council approved a reduction for CJ’s Restaurant and noted that an ordinance regarding the licensing will be rewritten.
• The Liquor Committee of the Littlefork council will review problems with heating and air conditioning at the city’s liquor store and make a recommendation for improvements.
• The council agreed with former mayor Jerry Anderson that he will continue with the interim pound master position until Aug. 31. The city still seeks a new pound master. The council agreed that a kennel system will be reinstalled at the city garage.
• The council also agreed to have city attorney Joe Boyle prepare the city’s new all-terrain vehicle ordinance to have in place when Koochiching County, which governs many county roads in the Littlefork area, implements its new ordinance.
• Councilor Loren Lehman suggested that as an Enhancement Project for the future, the city should pursue creating walking paths which would connect areas of the city and would facilitate marathons and races. Nov. 2 is the preapplication deadline for potential funding for enhancement projects of which the city would pay 20 percent.
• The council could reach no agreement on City Administrator Mike Fairchild’s request for the city clerk’s office to handle small-load purchases from the city sand pit in the interest of expedience for sand customers.
