City, county sign on the dotted line

Iola and Allen County have agreed to terms on an amended contract for the city to continue providing countywide ambulance service for the next five years.
The pact closes the latest chapter in the yearslong issue of providing a consolidated service for the county.
Governing bodies of both entities unanimously voted for the new contract terms, which increase the county’s subsidy to the city to $1 million annually — up from $750,000 — while ensuring ambulances remain stationed in their home depots if other ambulances are called to service. The annual subsidies after that will change in league with the Consumer Price Index.
The new contract includes an addendum to help the city make up a projected $378,000 budget shortfall by the end of the year. The county has agreed to pay $136,000 to make up part of the deficit immediately, with another $53,000 coming at the end of the year if the projected deficit comes to fruition.
“The operation needs to be sustainable, fully funded so the city does not have to go back continually to the county for more money,” Iola City Administrator Carl Slaugh wrote in his notes to council members. “There are still options for the city to reduce expenditures in fire operations.”
The changes would include altering standby and call-back policies when an ambulance is dispatched, Slaugh said.
The Allen County Commission voted, 3-0, for the new contract Tuesday morning; Iola City Council members followed with a 6-0 vote Tuesday evening, with members Bob Shaughnessy and Nancy Ford absent.
Iola took over operations for the entire county in January.
Coinciding with the pact were several personnel maneuvers Tuesday by the city regarding fire and EMS employees.
The resignations of Andrew Fournell, James Jerome, Elizabeth Drake and Trevor Shannon were accepted. City councilmen approved the hiring of Justin Benton and Terry Skaggs.
Council members also approved a 2.5 percent raise for EMS director Ryan Sell as part of the city’s new wage study adjustment.
As with the original contract, both sides have a six-month, opt-out clause. If the city votes to opt out, it cannot operate an ambulance service through the duration of the contract.
The new contract gives the city a clearer picture of what year-end budget transfers will be necessary for Iola to remain in accordance with the state’s cash-basis budget laws, Slaugh said.

THE IOLA Police Department will add a new officer with proceeds from a federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant.
The grant will provide the department with about $120,000 over the next three years, while the city matches $93,712.
At the conclusion of the three years, the city will have the option of keeping the officer on staff or terminating his employment.
Police Chief Jared Warner said the grant money also would be used to promote an existing officer to the role of detective.
Council members voted, 6-0, to accept the grant.

THE COUNCIL reappointed several city officials, including Warner, for the next two years. Also reappointed were City Clerk Roxanne Hutton, Fire Chief Tim Thyer, Municipal Judge Thomas Saxton and City Treasurer Debra Troxel. Their terms run through September 2016.
Other personnel actions approved Tuesday included the hiring of Austin Ryman and Ryan Smith in the Gas, Water and Wastewater Departments and the resignation of Eric Keagle from the Water Production Department.
Council members also approved the purchase of an electric system recloser.
A recloser is a circuit breaker equipped with a mechanism that would prevent several locations in east Iola from being affected by power outages outside of town.
Of particular concern are outages in Gas that also cut power along several businesses along East and Kentucky streets.
Council members approved purchase of a recloser system from Kriz-Davis for $18,594.29. The Kriz-Davis bid was the highest of three received, by about $1,500, but its system was considered the most reliable of the three.
Slaugh said the city’s electrical engineer consultant recommended the Kriz-Davis system as well. Most of the installation will be handled by city crews.