Quincy Reporter

Adams County Board Executive Committee met Nov. 2.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

The Adams County Board Executive Committee held the regularly scheduled meeting in the ROE Conference room.

The following members were present:

R. Kent Snider

Bret Austin

Barney Bier

Becky Weed

Les Post

Others present:

Casey Mercurio

Kevin Broemmer

Gary Farha

Todd Eyler

Sue Hester

John Simon

Anthony Foster

Bob Reich

The meeting was called to order at 5:32 p.m. by Mr. Snider.

Mr. Bier made a motion to approve the October 5, 2020 meeting minutes. Mr. Austin seconded the motion. The meeting minutes were approved.

Casey Mercurio with the Adams County Ambulance, and her union representative Kevin Broemmer, addressed the committee regarding a safety concern that Casey has with inter-facility transports. Mrs. Mercurio stated she has requested multiple tools to handle inter-facility transports, including proper paperwork, GPS in the rigs and hospital information, and all requests have been ignored by management. Her new concern is being put in an unsafe condition to transport a stable patient. She has witnessed multiple times a supervisor telling crews they have to take a transport in fog, with ambulance motors blowing up, towels being put in engines to keep them running, driving fast to avoid riots/curfews, and driving through high water and bad weather. She is not questioning emergency patients, or loss of life or limb; only asking about non-emergent in unsafe conditions.

Mr. Broemmer posed the question, asking when can the crew refuse; she is putting herself and the county in danger in a situation when the patient was not a matter of life or death. He stated this is a problem we need to look at before someone gets in trouble.

Mr. Snider suggested the Ambulance Board could look at developing a policy.

Mr. Bier asked how many times has Mrs. Mercurio driven in foggy conditions for an inter-facility transport. Mrs. Mercurio stated one time in the middle of the night, in a bad ambulance with no headlights.

Mr. Austin asked Mrs. Mercurio how many people feel the same way she does about the safety concerns on inter-facility transports. She responded “a large majority,” and suggested that many people have quit over this change.

Mr. Austin asked Mr. Broemmer if he could find other ambulance agencies that have a policy on inter-facility transports, and recommend language that we could use here at Adams County. Mr. Broemmer agreed that he would draft something for the committee to review. The committee thanked Mrs. Mercurio and Mr. Broemmer for their time and they were dismissed.

Mrs. Hester informed the committee that a revised Adams County Employee Handbook will be drafted for 2021, and will include 2 policies that were added mid-year. No other significant changes are expected at this time.

Mrs. Hester also presented to the committee the 2021 Benefits Guide, and gave an update that the county was in the middle of open enrollment utilizing Paycom.

Mr. Austin provided the committee with a summary of the budget, and was pleased that with the projected EAV the levy is flat. The goals this year were mostly accomplished, having reorganized capital expenditures to be reflected within individual departments. He is projecting $250,000 from cannibal sales tax.

Mr. Austin made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Bier seconded the motion. Chairman Snider adjourned the meeting at 6:04 p.m.

https://www.co.adams.il.us/home/showpublisheddocument?id=5305