Sagle Fire seeks new contract

SANDPOINT — The tectonic plates that compose the landscape of emergency medical services in Bonner County are moving.

Sandpoint Fire has put the county on notice that it will no longer respond to non-extrication EMS calls within the city unless it receives at least $75,000 in compensation. On Thursday, county commissioners and officials from the Sagle Fire District met in an attempt to patch up their differences and settle on a contract.

The two sides appeared to come tantalizingly close to achieving common ground only to find themselves far apart moments later, a cycle which repeated itself several times during the two-hour discussion.

Bonner County put Sagle Fire on notice last month that it would not renew the district’s $111,000 EMS contract and instead establish its own facility south of the Long Bridge.

The county contends the move is both being made for practical and financial reasons. Bonner County EMS contends it can provide a better level of service at a slightly reduced cost by establishing its own station in Sagle.

The move also follows several years of fraught relations between the two agencies.

But Sagle Fire officials propose salvaging the relationship rather than scrapping it.

The district offered to reduce its $111,000 contract to $86,000 or even $61,000 if need be. It also offered to implement a staffing strategy that would ensure EMS response even if Sagle’s crews were tied up on fire calls, which are the district’s primary function.

Either of those scenarios could forestall the layoffs of three firefighters and preserve a Federal Emergency Management Agency Staffing For Adequate Fire & Emergency Response grant, which would enable the district to boost staffing by three positions.

But if the contract talks fail, emergency response could suffer and the SAFER grant could evaporate, said Sagle Fire Commissioner Rob Goodyear.

“That will mean there will only be two people on duty per day and it may — I’m not saying it will and please don’t consider this a threat in any way — it may impact our ability to respond to EMS incidents,” Goodyear said.

Wakeley, however, is standing by his recommendation that the county establish a facility in Sagle.

“I still think the best thing for the system is a full-time, dedicated Bonner County EMS ambulance,” said Wakeley.

Wakeley floated a counteroffer to pay Sagle a $25,000 responder and transport contract and let the district keep billings from calls that don’t involve a paramedic, bringing the contract value to about $45,000-$50,000.

But as the contract figures drew nearer to one another the parties seemed to drift apart on other matters, such as Sagle’s inability to roll an ambulance when its crews are tied up on fire calls.

“There are documented times when they are not available for EMS calls because of the demands of fire (response). That’s not a criticism; that’s a fact,” said Wakeley.

Sagle officials countered that it covers the county when its crews are swamped with EMS calls.

Strife between the two agencies was also referenced during the meeting. Sagle and Bonner County have been at odds over the installation of cameras and event data recorders in county ambulances, ambulance color schemes and the authority to summon air ambulances. County EMS staff have also reported being brow-beaten by firefighters.

Klaus Winkelmann, a Sagle Fire commissioner and treasurer, said the district is willing to commit to a loss for a year and prove that its plan is viable.

“If cost is the issue, let us talk about it. We’re willing to commit, at some pain to us, to demonstrate how well this can work,” he said.

County commissioners are slated to revisit the Sagle contract issue today.