County catches heat over EMS shift

SANDPOINT — Unease continues to trail Bonner County’s plan to revamp EMS operations.

County commissioners met with fire district and law enforcement officials on Friday so they could air their thoughts and concerns as the board contemplates contracting with North Valley Ambulance to provide EMS services. Some urged the board to recognize the quality resource Bonner EMS has grown to become over the past 15 years, while others lobbied for fire- or law enforcement-based systems.

But in between the sales pitches and grumbling over EMS policy decisions prior commissioners have made, more than one official expressed dismay with how the current commission has conducted itself as it tries to find a new gear for emergency medical services in Bonner County. The shift began behind closed doors under the auspices of a personnel matter involving former EMS Chief Bob Bussey, who they said resigned, and included the hiring of Interim Chief Jeff Lindsey, who founded North Valley.

The possible move blindsided the ranks of current EMS personnel, who questioned their job security and the effect on their retirement benefits.

Prior to Friday’s meeting, some argued the stealth courtship between the county and North Valley violated Idaho’s open meeting laws, although commissioners deny laws were broken.

Mark Sauter of the Bonner County Fire Chiefs’ Association said he welcomes a comprehensive review of EMS and implementing improvements.

“However, with the information we have now, we don’t have confidence the current process will address our concerns. We insist the EMS planning process be restarted so that the fire districts can be involved and provide their insight,” Sauter said.

Schweitzer Fire Chief Spencer Newton also urged commissioners to involve the broader public safety community in their discussions about EMS.

“This is really simple. We need to involve all the professionals in the room,” said Newton.

Bonner County Treasurer Cheryl Piehl said she could not understand why commissioners were mulling a significant change to EMS without involving the public or other officials, including herself.

“I am truly disappointed in this process,” said Piehl.

Commissioner Jeff Connolly defended the board’s secrecy. Connolly and Commissioner Dan McDonald were critical of media reporting which exposed the possible shift in EMS operations.

“To tell you the truth, some of the stuff that came out when it came out should never have been out. They were still just discussions,” said Connolly.

A common refrain among public safety professionals on Friday was reactivation of the county’s EMS advisory board, which was idled in 2016 due to lagging attendance.

“People stopped coming,” said McDonald.

Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad saw the county’s potential change in direction as an opportunity to improve the EMS system and appreciated the comments and concerns raised by the public safety officials.

“What it tells me is how much collective wisdom and experience we have in this room and I think we need to use that to our advantage,” said Rognstad.

The city, in addition to some fire districts, advocated for a fire-based EMS system, a concept that Commissioner Steve Bradshaw supports.

“Fire-based EMS is probably most successful nationwide. There are a hundred options out there,” said Bradshaw, who called the North Valley proposal a map to failure.

Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler, meanwhile, suggested putting EMS under the wing of his office, which already has accounting, billing and fleet maintenance infrastructure in place.

“It’s important that Bonner County EMS remains a part of Bonner County government,” said Wheeler.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.