VIENNA — The Maries-Osage Ambulance District (MOAD) Board of Directors took action at its Feb. 12 meeting after issues with two ambulances had left the district without a spare ambulance.

MOAD has four ambulances: a 2019 Ford, a 2016 Ford, a 2012 Ford and a 1990 Ford. The district regularly uses the two newer ambulances on calls. The two older ambulances are spares. Recent trouble with the transmission in the 1990 ambulance meant that the district had no spare ambulance in service because motor issues kept the 2012 ambulance out of service.

Board member Laura Stratman asked if the district had an estimate on what it would cost to repair each ambulance.

MOAD Administrator Carla Butler said a mechanic had quoted a transmission rebuild at about $3,000. A motor replacement would likely cost more than $11,000.

“We have to do something to one of them,” Laura Stratman said.

Board President Don Lanning asked board members which truck they thought would be better to fix: the 1990 ambulance with about 60,000 miles on it that has sat stagnant for much of its time, or the 2012 ambulance with about three times the mileage.

Laura Stratman motioned for the board to approve repairs to the transmission of the 1990 ambulance. The board passed the motion unanimously.

“Let’s continue to look into the other one and see what we can get done,” she said. “We’re not going to get another one. Best case scenario, we’re still talking two years before we get a new ambulance. We may end up having to fix them both.”

MOAD is on a waiting list for two new ambulances expected in 2026.

After hearings last month with the county commissions of both Maries and Osage counties, questions about the annexation of the Meta area into MOAD will appear on the ballots in both counties on April 2. Residents of the area in each county collected signatures to petition the commissions.

Each county’s ballots will feature separate questions depending on where voters live. Voters who live within the annexation area will vote for or against joining MOAD. Voters who live within MOAD’s current boundaries will vote for or against annexing the Meta area. The result of the election would not affect the taxes of voters already living in the district.

If the measure passes with both sets of voters within one county, then MOAD will annex that county’s portion of the Meta area. If it fails with one of the two groups within a county, then the annexation will not occur.

Later during the board meeting, Butler said MOAD employees had asked if the district could look into a new system for writing reports. She did a demonstration with the medical software company ESO and shared an estimate with the board that would more than double the $1,250 annual cost that the district pays for its reporting software. The board took no action on the reporting system.

The board approved the 2023 year-end budget. The district ended the year with a balance of negative $55,147.25, which Butler attributed to delays in billing and reimbursement from a grant. The board had tabled the discussion of the year-end budget at the January meeting to give Butler time to talk with an auditor about the implications of ending the year with a negative budget.

Butler said she had talked with an auditor who told her that the budget was set by the board and a guide for them to plan and track spending throughout the year. The negative balance at the end of the year would not affect the 2024 budget because it starts fresh.

In January, MOAD had an income of $207,991.48. Expenses totaled $49,132.03 for a net income of $158,859.45. Most of the income came from taxes in Maries County ($109,854.59) and Osage County ($51,287.79). Additional sources of income included service fees ($29,109.97) and sales taxes ($17,589.16).

Expenses totaling more than $2,000 in January included payroll/payroll taxes ($40,688.17) and office expenses ($2,980.99).

The board reviewed three quotes for a new furnace at the Vienna base before selecting the one from Rehagen Heating & Cooling, Inc. The quote was $9,457 for a Daikin furnace with a five-year warranty.

In January, MOAD responded to 54 calls for service. Of those calls, 34 occurred in the Vienna zone. Those calls included two life-threatening emergencies, 17 urgent emergencies, 13 dry-run emergencies and two transfers.

Of the 20 calls in the Freeburg zone, 13 were urgent emergencies and seven were dry-run emergencies.

Near the end of the meeting, Butler asked board members if they would want to do annual employee background checks for a cost of about $400 each year. The board liked the idea and voted to enact the plan.

The district hired a new EMT pending a background check and a new paramedic will start work soon.