Government : Benton County Board of Supervisor Minutes July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

A joint meeting between the Board of Supervisors and the EMS Advisory Council met on July 8, 2025 at 6:08 p.m. at the EOC at the Sheriff's Office. Supervisor Seeman, Tippett and Volz were all three in attendance. Anna DeMuth, Chairman of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Advisory Council called the meeting to order.

The Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council has continued having regular joint meetings with the Board of Supervisors. With the EMS Trust Fund, the County has to oversee all the tax dollars ensuring they are utilized properly and distributed equitably among the service providers.

Assistant County Attorney Derek Marsh was invited to the April, 2025 meeting and has since drafted a Benton County EMS Trust Fund policy. This is to establish procedures to allow EMS providers that provide emergency medical services within Benton County to receive reimbursements for expenses spent from the EMS trust fund. This policy has listed out in detail what expenses are eligible along with procedures for reimbursement and budgeting . The Auditor explained the expense reports created to show the the FY 25 activity of the fund and what each entity had spent. Rippel also explained the importance of budgeting from one fiscal year into the next and committing unspent funds for future projects and purchases. There was productive conversations that allowed input for some minor tweaks the council would like to the policy. Continued discussion was also had regarding allowing funds to be paid to non-Benton County EMS Providers and what they would be subject to. Marsh explained the importance of 28E agreements between the entities and fees/capped dollars for said reimbursement. Moving forward, the Board of Supervisors will ultimately approve the revised policy and the Auditor will file an annual report that will be made publicly available. The Advisory Council shall continue to annually assess and review the emergency medical services needs of the county.

Tippett moved//Seeman seconded: To adjourn at 7:45 p.m. Motion carried.

_______________________________

Tracy Seeman, Chairman

ATTEST: _________________________________

Hayley Rippel, Benton County Auditor