Ambulance Board enforces rules of conduct

The Monday, Sept. 19, meeting of the Cedar County Ambulance Board in El Dorado Springs drew the anticipated large crowd which filled the El Dorado Springs Civic Center to standing room only. Many of the people present wore red indicating they were first responders while several wore their St. John’s Ambulance Service uniforms.

Before the meeting started, some 23 citizens lined up to sign the sheet to speak at the meeting. The sheet asked for their name, address, EMS affiliation and topic on which they wished to address the board.

At the beginning of the meeting, Chairman Leroy Sousley made an announcement: “We have accepted the proposal from CMH in Bolivar and we are just waiting to sign the contract with them. So we are not going to discuss that tonight. It’s done. So, there is no use having all kinds of arguments about it when it’s already finished.”

A voice from the audience said, “What do you think we are here to discuss?”

The chairman said, “You have to be recognized before you go to talking because we are not going to have all kinds of disturbances and screaming and fighting.”

El Dorado Springs Police Chief Jarrod Schiereck and Sgt. Brian Mohler were present to enforce the peace.

All board members were present: Don Fugate, Greg Reynolds, Robert Matney, Natalie Scrivner, Sue Rice and Leroy Sousley – presiding.

Sue Rice, chairman of the bid committee, gave her report from the executive session saying that the board accepted the proposal from Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar and that the attorneys are working on the contract. She handed out copies of the proposals from St. John’s, Citizen’s Memorial and Eagle Air Transport. (Editor’s note:
If you want a copy of the proposals, contact the Sun office at 876-3841 or at sunnews@socket.net and we will forward your request.)

A lady at the front of the audience received a cell phone call and began a conversation. Chief Schiereck escorted her out of the meeting room.

Bob Patterson, EMS director for St. John’s – Springfield, gave the monthly report on ambulance runs. He said that a technology upgrade has been completed at the El Dorado Springs Police Department to give a location on mobile callers.

Patterson said the invoice has been issued for the remount on the ambulance box. He said, “We will park it where you want so you can give it to the new vendor.” He said that made more sense than going to the expense of installing signage when the ambulances would have to be re-marked at the first of the year.

Patterson gave a statement thanking Cedar County for allowing St. John’s to serve here 25 years. He said St. John’s would work with CMH to make the transfer a smooth one. He said St. John’s had offered and most employees had accepted a change in employment.
Patterson encouraged CMH to make its offer to hire St. John’s employees more definite.
In the financial report, Bookkeeper Junie Yockley said the district is about $138,000 ahead of where it was at this time last year.

The board approved the payment of bills as presented, including utility bills.

The board voted to move $65,000 from checking to the interest bearing money market account.

In unfinished business, the board took up opening bids for the bookkeeping service. While the chairman was opening the envelopes, a woman in the audience made a comment about what would happen if Sousley cut himself. There was a general outburst from many in the crowd which did not appear to be friendly toward the ambulance board.

Chief Schiereck made his way to the center of the audience where the woman was sitting and spoke with her. She appeared to agree to his request and said, “I will.” There were no more outbursts.

After the bids were opened and all board members had a chance to look at them, Robert
Matney said, “I motion to accept Ms. Yockley’s bid,” She had bid $500 a month and asked for a five year contract. The Board would have to pay for her bond.

The motion died for lack of a second.

The chairman said, “We only have one bid like we put in the proposal.”

On a motion by Reynolds, second by Rice, the board voted to accept the bid from Integrity Tax and Accounting, a bonded CPA firm, for $400 per month. The vote was five in favor with Matney voting no.

On a motion by Rice, second by Reynolds, the board voted to extend Ms. Yockley’s contract for 30 days at $500, her normal pay, to help with the transition. That vote was unanimous yes.

The board took up consideration of appointing a Custodian of Records as required by RSMO 610. On a motion by Rice, second by Scrivner, the board voted to specify that the board secretary be the Custodian of Records. The vote was five in favor with Matney voting no.

Matney said, “Where are the records now?”

The board tabled an item on policy manual update because Scrivner said it was not ready.

On the budget update item, Rice said she and Natalie should have the budget ready by the next meeting. Rice said they are using the old records in the budget work. The board tabled the computer update because the new bookkeeping service will provide their own computer.

Under new business, the board took up consideration of extending the contract for a year with Attorney Frank Foster for $750. On a motion by Matney, second by Scrivner, the vote passed unanimously.

On updating furniture and fixtures at both barns, Sousley said that three recliners are breaking down. He said he is waiting on a quote.

On a motion by Rice, second by Matney, the board voted unanimously to purchase two fire-proof locking file cabinets and then on another motion to go ahead and get them.

Under Robert’s Rules of Order, Rice read the section on informal meetings (as reported earlier in the Sun) that a small board can operate differently than a large group.

She reported that contrary to what John Wilson did repeatedly at the last meeting (without mentioning him by name) the audience is not allowed to call for a point of order, only a member of the board.

On the privilege of addressing the board, Rice reported that members of the public have the right to attend the open portion of a meeting but do no have the right to speak unless the board grants it.

The board voted to table a bylaw revison draft until the next meeting.

The next item on the agenda was John Wilson’s complaint to the Attorney General alleging an Open Meeting Law violation by failure to post a notice.

Rice reported that the complaint was filed Sept. 1 and received by the board Sept. 9.
She said the board’s reply was faxed and mailed Sept. 13. The board is waiting for the reply from the Attorney General’s office.

In the public forum, the chairman looked over the list of those who signed up to talk.

When ask about the sign in list, Rice said that many of the people who signed up to speak did not give a topic or wanted to talk about the ambulance contract.

When Mary Norvel was recognized, she immediately started talking about the contract wanting to know if the three reasons given in the El Dorado Springs Sun article were all the reasons. The chairman soon cut her off.

Robert Groves was recognized next and went directly to the contract. His time was concluded.

Cheri Allison asked about the call routing system. The chairman asked if she was talking about dispatching. He told her the calls would go to the Cedar County
Sheriff’s office as they do initially now. Under St. John’s service, the sheriff’s office forwards the calls to St. John’s emergency medical dispatch. Under CMH, the sheriff’s office will dispatch the call. This is pending an agreement between CMH and Cedar County for that service.

John Wilson had signed the list to discuss “Old and New Business,” so Chairman Sousley gave him permission to speak. The first thing Wilson said was that Sousley should have made the short announcement because it was not on the agenda.

Sousley said, “That’s enough of that, too. You’re out of order.”

Matney said, “You just gave him the right to speak.”

Sousley said, “You don’t correct the board.”

Wilson said, “Are my five minutes up. I didn’t think so. The other thing, the missing records, in the Sunshine Law it states all public records, even your own by-laws, are to be at the El Dorado Springs office. We do have photographs and they are being investigated right now as being missing. Can you tell me where those records are?”

The chairman said, “The records are not missing.”

Wilson said, “Then where did they go?”

Rice said, “The records are under lock and key right now.”

Wilson said, “At the El Dorado station?”

Rice said, ‘No, because there is no way to lock them up at the El Dorado Station.”

Wilson said, “What about the safe that is there?”

Rice said, “The safe has the combination written on the front of it. It is not safe.”

Wilson said, “Is it in a room with the door locked?”

Rice said, “No, there is no door on it. John, I’m not going to argue with you.”

Wilson said, “I’ve got to move on because I’ve only got five minutes.”

Rice said, “No, you don’t.”

Wilson said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were the chairman.”

Chairman Sousley said, “That’s alright. You are out of order and that’s the last we are going to hear you talk.”

Wilson said, “I didn’t hear the buzzer ring.”

The chairman said, “Well, you don’t have to hear the buzzer ring. You heard me tell you.”

Sousley said, “You are supposed to abide by these rules. (Reading from Rules of Conduct) 12. If the speaker violates these rules of conduct, they may be ruled out of order and suspend any remaining time left. If a speaker continues to speak or speaks without being recognized, the speaker will be asked to leave the meeting.“

Wilson said, “So are you asking me to leave?

The chairman said, “Yes, I’m asking you to leave.”

The audience applauded Wilson.

Wilson asked if he was going to leave in handcuffs looking toward the police chief who was further back in the meeting room. Sousley said, “Well, you can if you want to. That’s your decision.” Wilson was escorted out of the room to more applause.

Matney said, “I’d like to make a statement before this meeting is adjourned. I still cannot understand why you people went with another ambulance service as good as St. John’s has been to us for years and years.”

Due to the rapidly deteriorating order in the room, the board made and passed a motion to adjourn the meeting over Matney’s objections.

Sousley said later he wants to thank the City of El Dorado Springs and City Manager Bruce Rogers for permitting them to use the Civic Center for the meeting.