[PAGE 1] A P P R O V E D F E B R U R A Y M E E T I N G M I N U T E S F L O Y D C O U N T Y E M S A D V I S O R Y C O U N C I L Date: February 27th, 2024 Time: 5:00 P.M. Meeting called to order by: Dawnett Willis I N A T T E N D A N C E Voting Members: Patrick Lumley, Dawnett Willis, Jeff Sterling, Dave Luett, Dawn Staudt Non-Voting Members: Dennis Keifer, Marty Parcher, and Brandy Molitor Public: Mayor Andrews Meeting Called to Order by: Co-Council Chair-Dawnett Willis at 5:00 p.m. A P P R O V A L O F A G E N D A Motion made Pat Lumley Second by Dave Luett Action Taken: Agenda approved by council. A P P R O V A L O F J A N U A R Y M I N U T E S Motion made Dawn Staudt Seconded by: Pat Lumley Action Taken: January minutes approved by council. Public Comment-No comments [PAGE 2] Floyd County EMS Advisory Council Chair and Secretary Positions: Nomination made for Pat Lumley to be Floyd County EMS Advisory Council Chair. Motion made by Dawnett. Seconded by Dave Luett Nomination made for Dawn Staudt to be Floyd County EMS Advisory Council Secretary. Motion made by Dawnett. Seconded by Jeff Sterling Action: motions approved, Pat Lumley as the Floyd County EMS Advisory Council Chair and Dawn Staudt as the Floyd County EMS Advisory Council Secretary. Voting Membership: Motion made by Pat Lumley to make the following agencies or designated representatives voting members of the council. Second made by – Dawnett Willis City of Charles City/Floyd County Ambulance Commission-Charles City Council member also sits on the Floyd County Ambulance Commission, both councils are represented by the same voting member. Charles City Council - Pat Lumley or designee Floyd County Medical Center-Dawnett Willis or designee Greene Volunteer Ambulance-Jeff Sterling or designee American Medical Response-Dawn Staudt or designee Nora Springs Volunteer Ambulance-Dave Luett or designee Action Taken-Motion Passed Non-voting members added to the council are Marty Parcher-Marble Rock area liaison, Kendall Nolt-Colwell area liaison, Brandy Molitor-Floyd County EMS Association liaison. Special Election versus General Election: Discussion about holding a special election vs waiting for the general election in November; Pat feels there are positive and negatives to either date. The November election historically produces less voters. Originally there was talk of the school also attempting to hold a special election in September, but it appears they most likely will not be holding a special election in September. Dawnett agrees that a special election will draw the most people that are educated on the need for EMS. A special election will cost the same as a general election, approximately $10,000 to $15,000. Dennis Keifer explained the expense but does not have a recommendation in favor of, or against the special election vs the general election. Marty agrees that the special election will produce more voters that are EMS supporters. Mayor Andrews feels the cost may be worth not sharing the voting poles with other elections. Motion to hold September election-made by Dave Luett Second by Dawnett Willis Action Taken: Recommendation is given to the BOS representative, Dennis Keifer Ambulance Commission Findings: Discussion about the Floyd County Ambulances Commissions vision for future ambulance services in Floyd County if the EMS Tax Levy does or does not pass. Much discussion on Public versus contracted services, cost, sustainability, etc. March 5th is the next Ambulance Commission meeting with this as an agenda item. [PAGE 3] Floyd County EMS Committee (advocate for EMS): Pat had several conversations with the Iowa Board of Ethics regarding monetary donations. The EMS Tax Levy Advisory Council cannot accept donations to support a Yes Vote, the council can only educate the public on the need for and importance of EMS within the county and what the outcome may be without a county supported ambulance service, whether it’s a municipality or privately owned service. An individual committee can be formed and then that committee can accept non-tax-deductible donations. The Floyd County EMS association cannot accept donations for political movements. Dave will look further into the guidelines for the use of donations, what is considered political vs education. Dawnett believes the campaign should be to vote Yes. Mayor Andrews discussed that the committee could educate but individual members council members can promote vote yes, just not as the representatives of the council. Other counties formed a separate committee to campaign to vote Yes. Dave has a donor that will donate if it’s tax deductible, but he will approach them and others with the non-tax deduction donation and advise the council of his findings. More discussion on this topic and the way forward during the March 2024 meeting. 2024 Floyd County EMS Tax Levy PowerPoint Review: Pat will be obtaining the agricultural tax and how it affects the farming community. No suggestions on slide 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Slide 7 – Requires additional information. Slide 10 – Discusses the expense of EMS thus far. The % of increase is over 80% at the end of year 3 in the current contract. % needs to be changed in this slide to 84% Slide 11 – Education on the financial reimbursement standards and opportunities with private vs public. This is not about AMR, it’s about dedicated funding sources. Either choice will require a subsidy. The max levy needs to be requested. Slide 12 – Further breakdown expenses. Slide 13 – No changes. Slide 14 – Changes to point out what the community will be losing if they want to keep the service but do not want the tax levy. What are you willing to live without, pool? library? beautification projects? Overall improvements within the city or county services or resources? Reductions to public safety or fire protection? Slide 15 – Need to change the content to reflect the same information. Slide 16 – Sample ballot. Agenda item next meeting on the ballot recommendations. Slide 17 – Pat is working with Gloria Carr on how the taxes will affect the home and landowner. Research calculating options for the taxpayer should be obtainable on social media or some other format. Slide 18 – Eliminate pictures to make wording bigger, easier to read, possibly develop a 2nd slide to keep the content. Slide 19 – No changes. [PAGE 4] Public Engagement Planning: Next meeting- start scheduling engagements for presentations at town hall or civic meetings. Social media presence needs to be improved. Dawnett and Jim Jorgenson or Dennis Keifer to brief civic groups. Dawn contacted the Floyd County Fair Board and the Charles City Chamber about the Party in the Park. August. We are cleared to do as much time as we want at the fairgrounds during the Floyd County Fair in July. Party in the Park is an excellent opportunity to get the councils message out and if a special committee is formed, it would be an excellent opportunity to promote a Yes Vote and potential get community members to agree to have a yard sign on their property. There will also be an Open House event at the Charles City Fire Station the week of May 20th, this is National EMS Week. Other Comments Numerous back up slides that are not completed or up for discussion-Mayor Andrews feels the PPT should only last about 10-15 minutes to keep the audiences engaged in the topic. Leave most of the time for questions. Future Agenda Items: Flyer review. What do we want it to have as the target points. More focus on the flyer will be at the next meeting. N E X T M E E T I N G Next meeting is scheduled for 5PM March 28th in the Floyd County EOC. Motion To Adjourn: Made by Dawn Second: Dawnett Action taken meeting adjourned at 6:27pm.