Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Porter County mulls having townships take over ambulance services

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By JEFF SCHULTZ

The Porter County Council is seeking to explore the option of having ambulance districts within townships as a possible alternative to contracting with Porter Health Care System to provide ambulance services.

Some Council members last month were surprised to learn that the County Commissioners had extended the service contract with Porter Health from 2016 to 2020. Jim Biggs, R-1st, said he is in favor of looking at other options as the price for services has gone up in recent years, even though the ambulances are no longer serving the Town of Chesterton, which opted to contract with its own provider.

At the meeting Tuesday, Council President Dan Whitten, D-at-large, said along with the extension the Commissioners agreed to, it has also been confirmed that the money paid would be from the sale of Porter Memorial Hospital as stated in the County’s ordinances.

The issue there, according to Whitten, is that the sale proceeds have been invested in the County’s endowment fund, all but the $10 million set aside for capital projects.

The current contract is for $750,000 annually and would “eat at” the available amount of hospital funds, Whitten said, which is now less than $8 million since moneys were appropriated to build a new animal shelter.

“It doesn’t make sense to do that,” he said. “Sooner or later, it’s going to dry up.”

Biggs said the County spends more than the contracted amount on services because it also gives subsidies to Portage Township and Ogden Dunes for their ambulances.

Council member Robert Poparad, D-at-large, said he feels that before alternatives are looked at the County Commissioners should be asked if they think the County should be responsible for ambulances or go the path of having ambulance districts.

Biggs said the Council should also have some skin in the game. Whitten added the focus should be on finding the best quality service with the best response times.

Whitten said he hopes to make the matter a discussion point with the Commissioners during the upcoming 2017 budget hearings in the fall.

Council member Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, said that the townships should be included in the conversation.

Should the County decide to bow out of its agreement with Porter Health, there is a 180-day cancellation clause, Whitten said.

The Commissioners extended the contract once Porter Health offered to hold the cost at $750,000 per year instead of increasing it to $1 million as originally planned.

Jail care

In other business, Council attorney Harold Harper told the Council he has investigated its questions from last month concerning medical care at Porter County Jail. Harper said he is looking into the current contract the Jail has with Correct Care Solutions.

Medicaid won’t cover incarcerated persons at the jail but those who receive care outside the jail can be covered for such procedures as dialysis. Harper said he will provide the Council with the rest of his findings in a short time.

On another topic related to the Jail, the Council tabled 6-1 the County Sheriff’s Police request to purchase body cameras for its 45 patrol officers. The cameras are $25,000 but the storage for video on an iCloud server is $55,000 for the first year, and $25,000 each subsequent year.

PCSP Chief Deputy Jeff Biggs and Business Manager Edie Hahn said the costs will be paid with a grant from the Drug Enforcement Administration, not the County’s general fund, and the contract would be for five years.

Poparad questioned the expense for the storage and if the funds from the grant would continue to be available. He cautioned that the Council would have to come up with the money someplace else should the grant fund wither. Hahn and Jeff Biggs said the fee would be reduced to $25,000 in subsequent years and they do not anticipate the grant going away.

Council members thought it would be best to see the contract first before voting to spend the money. Rivas dissented on the vote to table.

Other approvals Thursday included $25,000 to the Highway Department for motor supplies and another $25,000 for vehicle repairs this year. For the Expo Center, $8,000 will be transferred from power to building maintenance to take care of things like water leaks, gates, and an alarm system.

Rivas said a needs study for County venues will show what else needs to be done at the Expo Center.

 

Posted 7/27/2016

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

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