Hearings scheduled in Littlefork and Big Falls on Ambulance Service facility

When an ambulance call comes in from the Littlefork service district, one pulls out from a two-stall residential garage in Littlefork. There is no water on this site.
After delivering a patient — most often to Falls Memorial Hospital, but sometimes to Bigfork — the contaminated ambulance returns to a garage that is crowded with equipment and the paraphernalia necessary for saving lives. The interior of the vehicle is then disinfected on site with spray cleaners. Dirty laundry must be taken to the Littlefork Medical Center for processing and emergency medical technicians bring their own soiled clothing home to their families.
Record keeping is handled across town where the office is located below City Hall.
Several people who serve on the Littlefork Ambulance Service say circumstances are increasingly challenging, yet they are dedicated to the emergency service in this rural area with an aging population. The ambulance responds to approximately 75-100 calls annually.
Laurie Smith, member and scheduler of the Littlefork Ambulance Service, said she believes that if the facility was more user-friendly, the recruitment of EMTs would be more successful.
“I mean there’s not even a floor drain where we are now,” said Smith. “We can’t take a shower, or clean off blood and vomit.”

A plan
Sam Hege, also on the ambulance service, says a change will have to come. As a contractor and developer, Hege has presented a proposal to the Littlefork ambulance taxing district board, for a facility which he believes is cost effective and would answer the needs of an efficient service.
Hege has presented blueprints for a new ambulance garage that he proffers to build on his lot south of Deerwood Bank in Littlefork. The plan would resolve zoning and operating issues, he said.
Hege would require a two-year lease agreement on the structure, rentable at a fee of $1,000 per month, with the option of accruing $300 of each monthly payment toward an estimated $180,000 purchase amount.
The layout includes a large meeting room, two ambulance bays with room for other equipment, a laundry, shower, EMT lounge and a mechanical room. Currently, any training for the service must take place either in the local school or the city’s community building. Hege said he would maintain the structure and the grounds, but insurance would be the responsibility of the ambulance service.
With 20 years of ambulance service, Hege has also encouraged his two sons to serve, because he believes the need in the area is critical.
“I just hope the people can help support me in this and realize that I am putting myself out there for the community,” said Hege. “It’s not like I’m making any money ... I just want to see it go. We’re going to need this service for a long time.”
Littlefork City Administrator Mike Fairchild agrees that Hege has had a consistent concern about improving conditions.
With the costs of materials rising, waiting to make a decision could see increases two-to-three times higher, according to Hege.
He plans to withdraw his current offer at the end of June if no decision is made.

Fire Hall not best option
Earlier this spring, Smith explained to the Littlefork Council that combining the ambulance service with the newly remodeled fire hall had been thoroughly examined, and found to have several obstacles to efficient operation.
“We really did look at the option,” said Smith who believes Hege offers a good solution. “We spent a lot of time and a fair amount of money to discover that the expense of an addition to the Fire Hall was too high.”
Hege further explained: “We don’t cover the same areas (as the Fire Department) and the details of operating are so different. And we deal with lives and HIPAA (federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability) confidentiality laws.”
Smith, of Mannco Trucking, said she is familiar with the costs and complications of construction and doesn’t believe the service is going to get as good a solution any cheaper than Hege’s. “I’m comfortable with Sam,” she said. “He’s very flexible. We don’t have to buy (the property) in two years. We could continue renting.”
But Smith thinks it would be smart to make the purchase. “We’d actually be renting a great facility for $700 a month with the funding incorporated by working with the city.”
Smith explained that there are only two $10,000 payments left on a loan from Koochiching County for an ambulance purchased, which would soon make the offer affordable for the district.

Informing taxpayers
The decision will ultimately rest with the ambulance service taxing district board, which wants to hear from the taxpayers it represents.
With an annual increase already coming to balance the ambulance service’s budget, a vote to accept Hege’s offer would slightly raise taxes even more, according to Anita Gray, committee chairwoman for the ambulance taxing district board. The board is discussing an increase from the current $36,000 ambulance budget to $60,000, to include the leasing agreement, she said. That means property owners with residential market values of $80,000 to $100,000 would see an average increase in the approximate range of $19 to $24 per year, as is shown in a May 2008 levy comparison provided by Fairchild.
Gray encourages area taxpayers to attend one of two meetings scheduled to present more information on the service’s needs as well as have a closer look at Hege’s proposal.
A public hearing is scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m. in the Big Falls Community Building, and another on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Littlefork Community Building.
“We’re certainly still open to ideas,” said Gray. While she believes the increase would be a modest one, Gray said the board is very conscious that it represents taxpayers who are already facing increases on gas, groceries and other costs of living. “Come forward and tell us what you think,” Gray urged.
The current Littlefork Ambulance garage is located near the Littlefork water tower and includes a department of 10 members whose combined service equals more than 75 years, according to Smith. Tom Donahou is the newly elected chief.
The service district extends from just south of Pelland Junction to the Margie area, over to Highway 53 at Ray, down Highway 6 to the “Effie Corner,” and Highway 65 to the Bois Fort Reservation.

If you go:
WHAT: Public hearings on proposed Littlefork Ambulance Service facility
WHEN: Monday • 7 p.m. Big Falls Community Building; Tuesday • 7 p.m. Littlefork Community Building
Littlefork ambulance personnel and board members of the Littlefork Ambulance taxing district will be in attendance, and blueprints on a newly proposed service garage will be available.