There is still a shortage of volunteers for the Manawa Ambulance Service.
The issue was re-visited by the Manawa Rural Fire & Ambulance Board at its March 18 meeting.
The Manawa ambulance recently paid over $1,000 to the Clintonville Area Ambulance in order to have daytime shifts covered.
“We can’t afford to be paying someone else to do our job here,” said board president Mary Eck. “We need to get those shifts covered.”
She noted the problem was discussed in closed session and “hopefully it is moving forward.”
In other business, the board approved new bylaws, and Policy & Procedures for the ambulance service.
It was noted that the town of Royalton signed the revised municipal agreement.
The board discussed the cell phone needs of the fire and ambulance departments. It was reported that another cell phone is missing; leaving only two of four phones.
It was noted that a phone is needed in both ambulances, but not in the rescue truck.
The board agreed that the service be discontinued for the two missing phones. Also, with the current two-year cell phone contract due to expire, the board will explore other options.
Fire Chief Rob Rosenau reported that the fire department’s average response time is 10.47 minutes from time of page to arrival at the scene.
This is the average of all 20 of the department’s year-to-date calls, including mutual aid and non-emergency responses.
“The mutual aid response time of 20 to 30 minutes counts against that 10-minute response time,” Rosenau said.
Board members asked if the data could be broken down to reflect only the response time for emergency calls within the Manawa Fire District.
Rosenau reported that recommendations for the new truck should be ready to be presented at the April meeting.
Other topics of discussion included: Fire inspection costs and charges; financing options for purchasing the new fire truck; and financial statements.
In closed session, the board “resolved that the ambulance director shall turn over the checkbook and bank statements, as was recommended by the former director.” There was also discussion about standard operating procedures regarding fire calls.
The next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 22.