Government : EMS Advisory Council/Benton County Board of Supervisor Meeting 7/26/23

July 26, 2023

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in a special join session with the EMS Advisory Council. Supervisors Seeman and Bierschenk were present, Primmer attended via zoom. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. at the conference room at the Benton County Emergency Operations Center.

Unless otherwise noted, all actions were approved unanimously. Summarized Resolutions will be available in the Auditor's office and at: www.bentoncountyia.gov

The Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council met with the supervisors to provide the language they would like on the upcoming November election. They had their quarterly EMS meeting last week and discussed at length the levy asking amount that would work best to allow room for growth and sustainability. In 2022 there was 2327 EMS calls for service in Benton County. When these services are already working with deficits, it makes it more and more difficult to sustain financially. As these call numbers continually increase so does the cost for needed equipment and vehicles to be able to provide these services. Not to mention all the required training and the importance to retain employees and volunteers in these positions.

Primmer moved/Bierschenk seconded: To approve Resolution #23-54, Imposing a Voter-Approved EMS Tax Pursuant to Iowa Code 422D. Voting aye were Primmer, Seeman and Bierschenk. Motion carried.

RESOLUTION #23-54

RESOLUTION TO DIRECT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF

ELECTIONS TO SUBMIT THE QUESTION OF ADOPTING A LEVY AND IMPOSING A VOTER-APPROVED EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX PURSUANT TO IOWA CODE CHAPTER 422D

WHEREAS, Benton County Board of Supervisors declared Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to be an essential service in Benton County, pursuant to Resolution #23-31, adopted on May 9, 2023, recognizing that EMS is essential to preserve the health, safety and welfare of Benton County citizens; and

WHEREAS, the Board appointed the Benton County EMS System Advisory Council to provide guidance to the County on how to preserve and improve the local EMS system; and

WHEREAS, on July 26, 2023, the Advisory Council advised the Board of Supervisors of steps to preserve and improve the County EMS system through an ad valorem tax pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 422D; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Benton County Board of Supervisors, that the following proposition is approved, and the Board of Supervisors shall file the proposition for the ballot with the Benton County Commissioner of Elections at least sixty (60) days prior to the election.

SHALL THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC MEASURE BE ADOPTED?

PROPOSITION ___

YES [ ]

NO [ ]

Shall the Benton County Board of Supervisors, upon recommendation by the Benton County EMS Advisory Council, for the purpose of funding Emergency Medical Services in Benton County including, but not limited to, ambulance service, personnel, and equipment be authorized, for a period of fifteen (15) years, to levy and impose an ad valorem tax not exceeding Sixty-Eight Cents ($.68) per One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) of assessed valuation on all taxable property within Benton County commencing with the levy of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024?

[END BALLOT LANGUAGE]

NOW, LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Commissioner of Elections shall make publication of the Notice of Election in a legal newspaper in the County once at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of the election, as required by Iowa Code section 422D.1, and shall prepare all ballots and election registers and other supplies necessary for the proper and legal conduct of this election.

Adopted this 26th day of July, 2023.

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Tracy Seeman, Chairman

_____________________________________

Rick Primmer

______________________________________

Gary Bierschenk

ATTEST:

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Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor

This meeting's discussion wrapped up with ways the council will need to educate the public on how this levy will benefit everyone and the importance to have EMS services available when it's needed.