DARLINGTON –Amarathon meeting of the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors was held March 28 at 7:00 p.m. in the County Board room. The Board approved the Lafayette County EMS Statement of Purpose 14 – 1, with Supervisor Kurt Malott voting no. The statement is as follows: LaFayette County, Wisconsin Emergency Medical Services Department Statement of Purpose It is the purpose of the LaFayette County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department to provide countywide emergency medical ambulance services to all areas of LaFayette County by serving as the primary EMS provider within certain municipalities and serving as a backup emergency medical care provider in all parts of the County whenever a local ambulance service is unavailable to respond to calls for service. It is the mission and purpose of the LaFayette County Emergency Medical Service Department to augment and support the staffing needs of volunteer ambulance service providers and First Responder organizations throughout the County by encouraging an increase in the numbers of qualified volunteers to be recruited. The LaFayette County EMS Department also provides emergency medical care training at no or low fees charged to all ambulance and first responder units serving the residents of LaFayette County. LaFayette County acknowledges and readily agrees that volunteer emergency medical services in LaFayette County are the most practical type of ambulance and first responder service organizations for the good of our citizens and those visiting. We encourage as many volunteers as possible to commit to serving their communities in order to fully staff volunteer organizations well into the future of our County. LaFayette County government also states and understands that volunteer ambulance and first responder organizations are the backbone of the EMS response capabilities within this County. Just as the County Sheriff provides countywide law enforcement in conjunction with various municipal police departments without displacing those departments where they exist, it is the purpose of LaFayette County EMS to provide countywide EMS service as either the primary EMS provider in those municipalities that so choose or as a backup or supplement to municipalities that have their own organizations or departments. National and State of Wisconsin statistical trends indicate that volunteer EMS organizations are collapsing due to a lack of trained volunteers. Therefore, it is a function of the LaFayette County EMS Department to encourage the continued existence of volunteer ambulance services and first responder units for as long as they are sustainable with the understanding that LaFayette County’s EMS Department will be available to any community as a possible substitute ambulance service in the event that staffing a local volunteer ambulance service should become unsustainable. Regardless, LaFayette County EMS is always available to respond to calls to or from anywhere within LaFayette County upon request by a local municipality or if dispatched by a relevant dispatching agency.
Discussion was had after the resolution was read: Supervisor Kurt Malott asked “Isn’t that what mutual aide between departments cover.”
Supervisor Kriss Marion noted “This document opens a dialog between departments and that should have been done in the beginning. But there’s a lot more work to be done, like strategic planning and the folks in my area won’t be happy until that happens. I really appreciate this.”
Supervisor Bob Boyle said, “I think it’s really well written and I think it smoothes some hard feelings.” Supervisor Scott Pedley said, “My main purpose for drafting this was because of conversation I heard in this room. A very respected fire chief in the county told me they just don’t want to lose their ambulance service, we don’t want Argyle’s EMS service taken over. I answered – we don’t want to do that and had never had that conversation. With that level of misinformation that has been spread, I felt it was necessary to draft something to sort of calm the fears. This is a position document that we will live with, to support those volunteers and organizations.”
Sauer said, “The state is looking at coming with funding for EMS services. This is probably done more to destroy the volunteer services than anything else. The amount of training and retraining that they make them take. People with jobs, families and kids. They don’t have the time. My big fear is this going to start happening with fire departments. Training, from certified instructors to volunteers, it’s all about the money for the state.”
Marion said, “I don’t think misinformation was spread, it was a lack of understanding.” Boyle said, “At the County-wide EMS committee, Shawn and I went and explained our position.”
Morrissey said, “I think it would be a good idea to hire a consultant to show all the EMS services ways we can work together. Another point is we have to protect our people. We put Shawn Phillips in a awkward position, as a board member I apologized to him. That kid, after I got to know him, he wanted to be successful. And Jack, I hope you’re wrong about volunteer fire departments.”
Pedley with a point of clarity for the supervisor from Blanchardville, “I’d be happy to show you emails, listen to voice mails of misinformation that was intentionally spread.”
Other business:
•In comments and correspondence – Sauer mentioned “The legal action regarding EMS expenses billed to all municipalities have had good conversation and are working to make some agreements. Both attorneys are working on this and hopefully this can be settled without any court appearances.”
•A presentation was given by county librarians – with Argyle Librarian Sarah Kyrie showing a power point presentation and a display of library items to the supervisors. Other librarians present were: Johnson Public Library (Darlington) – Candi Fitzsimons, Blanchardville Library – Stuart Bisbee, Belmont Library – Betty Sautter, McCoy Public Library (Shullsburg) – Jennifer Detra. Dave Kranz Director of Southwest Wisconsin Library System was also present.
•Misty Molzof – Local Government Service Specialist for Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SWWRPC). She provided priority recommendations on opioid preventive treatment and recovery options. These can be used for the opioid settlement funds. The three priorities are: increasing capacity of Lafayette County existing agencies and services; Supporting or bolstering current transportation resources; Reducing barriers for access to services. The supervisors approved the assessment provided.
•Approved a (16 minute) resolution, read by Carmen McDonald that will enter Lafayette County into a settlement with several pharmaceutical companies Wisconsin is due to receive more than $400 million in total funding. 2021 Wisconsin Act 57 requires that the 87 local governments that participated in this litigation receive 70 percent of the funds, with the state receiving 30 percent of the funds. This means that the local governments will share $280 million and the state will receive $120 million, as well as $9.6 million in additional restitution.
According to SWWRPC Lafayette County is to receive a total settlement of $301,068 of non-secured fund paid out over a sixteen-year span.
Supervisor Dan Morrissey asked, “If you put the money in one of these three areas, what happens when the money is gone?”
Motzolf said, “You have to look at what you can put the money in that will support the opioid…” Morrissey said, “If you take this money for some program and you can’t financially support it later on, why are they doing it?”
Motzolf said, “Right. If you take the money and put it into detox program, how will you be able to sustain it for 30 or 40 years. You may not be able to or look for a partner or other funding sources out there. There is monies coming down from the federal government, that can offset some of these programs.”
Sauer mentioned the county could put the money in the hospital to create a detox department and take money from all over the state.
•Approved a Wisconsin state/local government memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the allocation of opioid settlement proceeds.
•Approved an addendum MOU for that allocation of opioid settlement proceeds.
•Approved Resolution 62-22, a resolution the sets protocol for hiring independent workers. The statement reads: The county shall do a background check on all independent contract workers hired by the county for positions that the county elects to contract with. Any agency of firm personal hired by Lafayette County shall be background checked by the home agency. Large well-known firms shall be exempt.
Discussion of what constitutes a well-known firm is. Sauer suggested contacted Chris Lange HR director if you have questions.
•Approved Resolution 63-22, a resolution in support of increased county child support funding. Laurie Neis, Lafayette County Child Support Administrator explained the department is looking for the state to increase funding for child support agencies by $5 million of which Lafayette County would see an increase in funding. The resolution has been support by 35 counties in Wisconsin. Lafayette County will receive $88,659 in 2024 from the state and if this passes it would mean the county would receive $117,600.
•Approved Resolution 64-22, a resolution amending Resolutions 90-21, 69-16 and 13-13 for filling vacant/new positions.
The amendment allows Lafayette County Highway Dept. to refill positions without prior approval from Human Resources Committee. They join the hospital, manor, law enforcement and human services with this arrangement. Positions still need to be approved by the department head and committee.
•Approved Resolution 65-22, a map amendment of Lafayette County zoning filed by Norman and Lois Gordon Trust to rezone 9.7 acres from agriculture working lands to rural residential district in the Town of Gratiot.
•Approved Resolutions 66-22 and 67-22 a resolution that allows Lafayette County Trails Committee to pursue grants and/or funding for use on the Tri-County Trail and County, should funding become available.
Supervisor Luke McGuire told the board that this is something that happens every year in case a new grant comes up, the committee can apply in a timely manner.
•Approved Resolution 68-22, a resolution approving the purchase of a tandem axle truck with Winter equipment including two patrol wings for the Highway Department. The truck will cost approximately $500,000 and will replace the truck that patrols Hwy. 151. The expected deliver is January of 2025.
•Approve Resolution 69-22, a resolution that approves using $185,000 of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for the Lafayette County Housing Authority for a Shullsburg replacement apartment building. ARP will have $1,969,843 remaining in the county’s fund.
•Approved Resolution 70-22 for approval of temporary limited easement to Wisconsin DOT for construction proposed of reconstruction of Hwy. 81 from Wildcat Road to the intersection of Hwy. 23 & Hwy. 81 in Darlington. It has not been clear when this project will happen.
Approve Resolution 71-22 and 7222, these resolutions separate EMT and AEMT full time job description into separate job descriptions. And updated compensation for Lafayette County EMS employees.
