WESTON – Keeping the village EMS financially healthy was the main topic of Monday’s council meeting.
EMS Chief Kathy Heyman and Clerk Jessie Kendall provided council with additional information asked for
after the two attended the last council meeting. Basically the information they provided detailed EMS
expenses. Although financially stable, more monies might be needed down the road if the program needs to
purchase a new ambulance.
Heyman estimated that this purchase might have to be made in four to five years. She wants to plan ahead
to be sure the monies are stable if such a purchase has to be made.
"We just can’t count on grant monies anymore," Heyman told the group. "In the past we got
$9,000. Last year we got $1,500. We cannot increase prices due to Medicare stipulations. We are not
private. Prices are going up."
Heyman referenced EMS costs including classes and refreshers for paramedics and shots such as the
Hepatitis B series.
"We are legally responsible for shots for personnel," she said. The shots are about $45 to 60
per shot and there are three shots per person just for the Hepatitis B series.
New tires on one of the current ambulances and the addition of hydraulic cots are purchases that might
have to be made. The cots are about $17,350 per cot and are recommended by the Bureau of Workers’
Compensation to reduce the incidence of back problems associated with regular cots. The EMS currently
owns two regular cots.
Neck collars are another increasing expense. The EMS also has to deal with a large amount of write-offs
for services.
"We have a lot of runs in this village," Heyman said.
Council had some discussion about the need for an ordinance to be drawn up for appropriations for the
EMS. They decided to have the finance committee look further into the matter. That committee will meet
after the Weston Village Council’s special meeting is concluded on Monday at 6:30 p.m.
The special council meeting has been scheduled to discuss and take action on the Community Development
Block Grant application which is due May 18. Council discussed potential projects for the grant and
decided to pursue sewer reconstruction on Locust Street from Main to Taylor Street. The storm sewer,
which provides drainage by the library and maintenance building, is "undersized and drains
slowly." Members decided to contribute 20 percent of the cost of the project as their local share
if the grant is obtained.
In other business council:
• Heard a proposal for a flea market to be conducted monthly throughout the summer months in the library
parking lot.
• Passed a motion made to get quotes for repair to some sections of the sidewalk and driveway of Randy
Tolles, restoring them to their original state before damage incurred from a village project.
• Learned that siding has been added to the baseball concession stand. The siding and labor were both
donated.
• Announced that the Weston Garage Sales will be June 1 and 2 and that Weston Days will be June 22, 23
and 24.