VIENNA — The board of the Maries-Osage Ambulance District (MOAD) approved the administrator’s recommendation to put $50,000 into the ambulance fund as the district moves forward to replace a 2012 Ford ambulance with a new one. The 2012 ambulance has mileage of 169,235.

At the MOAD February meeting, District Administrator Carla Butler spoke of the district’s surplus from the 2021 budget. Because of Covid-19 and other issues, staffing has been difficult. But, because of people not working as much, the district has realized a budget surplus in the payroll/payroll tax line item. There was a $99,642.80 carry over of money from 2021. Butler recommended putting $50,000 into the ambulance fund, $20,000 for a new parking lot at the Vienna MOAD base, and $26,000 into the district’s money market account. Also, if MOAD is awarded American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money from Maries and Osage counties to buy three power lift systems, she suggested using $6,000 of the 2021 surplus to pay for installing the Stryker loading systems.

Butler said she talked with Vienna Utilities Superintendent Shon Westart who said Vienna will be doing some street paving in 2022, and the city will not be paving streets again for two years. Butler also called Linn Technical College about the asphalt work and she was told they don’t do this type of work anymore. Westart told her the asphalt company will be in Vienna at the end of March to bid the city’s work. 

Board member Victor Stratman said when the asphalt company is in Vienna, it would be the best time to get a bid. He stated he likes the idea of putting $50,000 into the ambulance fund, which currently has a balance of $63,279. Board President Don Lanning said a new, non-equipped ambulance will cost from $120,000 to $150,000. It was stated the power lift system has to meet highway guidelines and having the lift systems may reduce the district’s costs for workers compensation insurance. There are supply chain struggles getting some items from Stryker, and costs have gone up. 

“It may be two years before we can get a new ambulance,” Lanning said. MOAD’s newest ambulance was a remount. The company, Osage Ambulance, takes off the box and checks everything out to see if it can be used on the new truck. Butler said they are asking the company to bring ambulances to the meeting in April. At that time they can get more information and more of an idea of what MOAD can afford and what and when it can get the new ambulance. 

In other business at the MOAD February board meeting:

—MOAD Paramedic Chip Smack spoke to the board about the CradlePoint NetCloud Mobile Essentials Plan and router with WiFi. He said WiFi is needed to transmit EKG’s to the hospital ahead of when the ambulance crew arrives with the patient. MOAD has been trying to use the CradlePoint system but several attempts to use it on-scene where cell service coverage “is not great” have not been successful. When he worked in North St. Louis County and in Cole County, it worked because they have good service and an external antenna. After working with several devices, CradlePoint was used with a router to receive the signals. Smack said this basically turned the ambulance into a WiFi hot spot. They had been struggling with another vendor who didn’t know much about the router. The vendor that helped them was Turn-Key Mobile, Inc. of Jefferson City. He received a price quote per ambulance of the CradlePoint five-year NetClub Mobile Essentials Plan and router with WiFi (1000 Mbps modem)  that includes a low profile 5 in 1 antenna with cables for FirstNet compatibility, and installation of the router and antenna in each vehicle for $1,853 per ambulance. There will be a monthly service fee through FirstNet. Butler said she thinks this is about $48 per month. 

Smack said this may not be the only expense because “as time passes and technology grows,” there will be other improvements to be made. However, he said he hopes this system will last a few years. A lot of services are using this CradlePoint product as they can connect with dispatch and communicate. Police officers use it to run plates on a data terminal in their vehicles. “It’s coming fast because of the ARPA money,” he said.

Butler said MOAD is trying to get ARPA money from Maries and Osage counties. The CradlePoint assists in providing public safety by adding another level of safety. 

Board member Laura Stratman asked if it is secure and Smack said it is secure. A person would need to be “very techie” to figure out a way to get to it. 

Butler said County IT Manager Shane Sweno gave her the Turn-Key Mobile contact. Sweno is proposing the CradlePoint plan for two units for MOAD, and two for both Vienna and Vichy Fire. 

Lanning said a lot of 911 centers are going to this plan. Smack said it has automatic vehicle tracking devices. Butler said she talked to Sweno who said it should work. Stratman said he can see the positives if the plan helps MOAD by getting it more up-to-date. Butler said it will require getting ARPA money from the two counties. Stratman said the ARPA money has to be committed by the end of 2024, which is unlike the CARES Act money which had to be spend in three-quarters of a year. They know that many entities want a piece of this money. Butler said they have to move forward to stay up to date. The CradlePoint system is mounted in the ambulances. 

Present at the February meeting were board members Laura Stratman, Eileen Smith, Steve Maxwell, Don Lanning, Victor Stratman and Laura Miller. Also present were Administrator Carla Butler and Paramedic Chip Smack.