New Berlin makes New Year's resolution to save ambulance service
NEW BERLIN – New Berlin officials met with a representative from the Town of Pittsfield on New Year's Eve night, and worked out a plan that'll keep New Berlin's ambulance service running for at least another six months.
Village of New Berlin Mayor Terry Potter, said the village needed to hold an emergency meeting on Monday night to work out an agreement with the Town of New Berlin and the Town of Pittsfield that would keep New Berlin's ambulance service operational but also pay for its service.
"When we received the word that Columbus was going to enter into a contract with Sherburne we needed to look at every available option," said Potter. "When there is a financial concern, I think cutting back on hours and manpower are options we have to consider."
Ultimately officials from the different municipalities each agreed to pay $37,500 for the service, totaling $112,500, but in order to help keep costs low the service would cut down it's operational time from 24 hours a day to 16 hours a day. New Berlin Ambulance Service representatives said the 16 hours that the service would be operational for was tentatively set for 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., but officials from the village said that was subject to change.
"The goal is to return to 24 hours a day coverage eventually," said Potter. "But I think we've got a good plan going forward, and we're going to do everything we can to make this work for the community."
Another stipulation of the contracting municipalities was that in six months time they would meet again and review the progress of ambulance service. The town boards will also need to vote to accept the new contract at their next monthly meeting.
Potter said the board is always discussing the sustainability of the service, and over the last 10 years there have been challenges they've faced, but each time the board has faced it head on.
"This is just another challenge for us to rise up to," he said.
Potter said the need for a new agreement came earlier this month after Town of Columbus officials announced that Columbus was leaving the shared service to joined the Sherburne ambulance service instead.
"When speaking to Tom Grace he had no complaints of our service," he said. "For last month of the 68 calls that were made from Columbus, 57 were answered by the New Berlin Ambulance Service."
According to New Berlin officials the ambulance service has dealt with financial challenges due in part to none payment for medical services, and a representative of the Pittsfield Town Board spoke at the meeting and suggested the village take more steps to recover payment.
Officials said the service has been reluctant to pursue patients over debts, because many of them are older and have limited incomes.
According to Town of New Berlin Supervisor Robert Starr, there have been issues in the past with the ambulance’s billing, as approximately 15 percent of the total expected income is lost due to non-payment.
Village of New Berlin Trustee Carol Riley said the village would consider more steps to collect owned debts.
Monday's vote approved a new ambulance contract but it has yet to be finalized by the other town boards who are participating in service. The service is now formed by a contract between the Village of New Berlin, the Town of New Berlin, and the Town of Pittsfield.
Town of New Berlin officials said the service currently covers a 12 to 15 mile radius around the Village of New Berlin. The towns of New Berlin, Columbus and Pittsfield used to collectively pay about $100,800 to the village for coverage, and according to village documents, from June 2017 through May 2018 the service cost the village $399,216.
The Town of New Berlin and Town of Pittsfield boards are scheduled to vote on the ambulance issue later this month, and while representatives have discussed a six month plan nothing is official until actions are passed through their local boards.
Pictured: Village of New Berlin Mayor Terry Potter shakes the hand of Town of Pittsfield Board Supervisor Michael Berthel after officials agreed to keep the Village of New Berlin Ambulance Service for another six months. (Zachary Meseck Photo)
Village of New Berlin Mayor Terry Potter, said the village needed to hold an emergency meeting on Monday night to work out an agreement with the Town of New Berlin and the Town of Pittsfield that would keep New Berlin's ambulance service operational but also pay for its service.
"When we received the word that Columbus was going to enter into a contract with Sherburne we needed to look at every available option," said Potter. "When there is a financial concern, I think cutting back on hours and manpower are options we have to consider."
Ultimately officials from the different municipalities each agreed to pay $37,500 for the service, totaling $112,500, but in order to help keep costs low the service would cut down it's operational time from 24 hours a day to 16 hours a day. New Berlin Ambulance Service representatives said the 16 hours that the service would be operational for was tentatively set for 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., but officials from the village said that was subject to change.
"The goal is to return to 24 hours a day coverage eventually," said Potter. "But I think we've got a good plan going forward, and we're going to do everything we can to make this work for the community."
Another stipulation of the contracting municipalities was that in six months time they would meet again and review the progress of ambulance service. The town boards will also need to vote to accept the new contract at their next monthly meeting.
Potter said the board is always discussing the sustainability of the service, and over the last 10 years there have been challenges they've faced, but each time the board has faced it head on.
"This is just another challenge for us to rise up to," he said.
Potter said the need for a new agreement came earlier this month after Town of Columbus officials announced that Columbus was leaving the shared service to joined the Sherburne ambulance service instead.
"When speaking to Tom Grace he had no complaints of our service," he said. "For last month of the 68 calls that were made from Columbus, 57 were answered by the New Berlin Ambulance Service."
According to New Berlin officials the ambulance service has dealt with financial challenges due in part to none payment for medical services, and a representative of the Pittsfield Town Board spoke at the meeting and suggested the village take more steps to recover payment.
Officials said the service has been reluctant to pursue patients over debts, because many of them are older and have limited incomes.
According to Town of New Berlin Supervisor Robert Starr, there have been issues in the past with the ambulance’s billing, as approximately 15 percent of the total expected income is lost due to non-payment.
Village of New Berlin Trustee Carol Riley said the village would consider more steps to collect owned debts.
Monday's vote approved a new ambulance contract but it has yet to be finalized by the other town boards who are participating in service. The service is now formed by a contract between the Village of New Berlin, the Town of New Berlin, and the Town of Pittsfield.
Town of New Berlin officials said the service currently covers a 12 to 15 mile radius around the Village of New Berlin. The towns of New Berlin, Columbus and Pittsfield used to collectively pay about $100,800 to the village for coverage, and according to village documents, from June 2017 through May 2018 the service cost the village $399,216.
The Town of New Berlin and Town of Pittsfield boards are scheduled to vote on the ambulance issue later this month, and while representatives have discussed a six month plan nothing is official until actions are passed through their local boards.
Pictured: Village of New Berlin Mayor Terry Potter shakes the hand of Town of Pittsfield Board Supervisor Michael Berthel after officials agreed to keep the Village of New Berlin Ambulance Service for another six months. (Zachary Meseck Photo)
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