Fostoria enters agreement to boost EMS funding

FOSTORIA — Fostoria City Council passed several supplemental year-end appropriations during their final regularly scheduled meeting of the year. One of which was to adopt a resolution creating an agreement with Public Consulting Group, LLC to facilitate participation in the Ambulance Supplemental Payout Program (ASPP). Chief Jason Root of the Fostoria Fire Department spoke in regard to the resolution. Root explained that the program will bring in significantly more money to the department by accessing funds previously not available to them– specifically in regard to Medicaid patients. "Currently, we only collect a small portion of money from Medicaid patients that we transport," said Root. "As a rough number, let's say we collect a third of that federal money." Root continued, "So as an example, if we receive $300—then there is roughly $600 still available to the federal government but not yet accessible to us." According to a flyer about the ASPP, Medicaid payment rates for ambulance services are often 70% less than the cost of providing those services. The ASSP, according to Root, would allow the department to leverage existing EMS expenditures to generate additional Medicaid revenue. "Our biggest concern as of right now is that we would annually be required to pay in our third of the funding up front as a sort of startup fee," said Root. Root explained that to participate in the program, the department must continue to collect supplemental data and share said data with Public Consulting Group, LLC. Finance Director Steve Dandurand noted that the LLC has a fee of 10% but shared his support for the program. "It's a three-year contract and from my perspective what the LLC is doing is handling the cost reporting necessary for this reimbursement opportunity," said Dandurand. "After three years, we may have figured out how to be able to do it ourselves." Councilwoman Sue Lehman expressed her concerns about the program, asking if Law Director Stephanie Kiser has reviewed the program from a legal standpoint. Kiser responded, saying everything looked good to her. Dandurand closed the topic by sharing "The bottom line is this, it's money we could potentially access that we are not accessing now." On another matter, Clerk of Council Tami Drake thanked Councilman Thomas Lake for his many years of service on council. Lake will not be running for re-election in 2025. During Officer Reports, Mayor Don Mennel suggested to council that the final agenda item under Old Business, in addition to four resolutions under New Business, be passed as an emergency. Mennel explained that the ordinance and resolutions are timely with this being the final meeting of the year. On another matter, Safety Service Director Eric Keckler was happy to share that the city recently was able to obtain funds amounting to just over $34,000 from the Hancock Park District in regard to the bridge project at City Park. Additionally noted, Keckler said the city will receive additional funding from the Wood County Park District to be put towards the shelter roof project in Portage Park. During Old Business, several supplemental ordinances were passed, including the following: Ordinance No: 2024-99: To amend the schedule of fees for all applications for certificates, permits, appeals, variances, amendments, and other matters pertaining to the administration and enforcement of the City's Zoning Code. Ordinance No: 2024-100: To accept a proposed agreement for a Community Reinvestment Area Tax Incentive Agreement from National Electrical Carbon Products, INC., authorizing further action thereon and declaring an emergency to exist. Ordinance No.: 2024-101: To approve a loan from the Revolving Loan Fund (UDAG, fund number 240) to Seneca Property Holdings, LLC., disburse seven hundred and $50,000 and 00/00 dollars ($750,000.00) from fund 240 to make that approved loan and declaring an emergency to exist. Ordinance No.: 2024-102: Authorizing the Director of Public Service and Safety to negotiate and enter into a contract with Seneca County Joint Ambulance District (Jackson Township), Seneca County, Ohio, for the provision of emergency medical services and declaring an emergency to exist. Ordinance No.: 2024-103: Amending Section 941.03 of the Codified Ordinances of the city of Fostoria, Ohio relating to sewer rates and declaring an emergency to exist. Ordinance No: 2024-104: Adopting an Amendment to the Financial Recovery Plan for the city of Fostoria, Ohio and declaring an emergency to exist. Ordinance No.: 2024-105: Establishing the Fiscal Year 2025 permanent appropriations and declaring an emergency to exist. *Resolution No.: 2024-106: Adopting the federally approved Seneca County All Hazard Mitigation Plan of 2025 and declaring an emergency to exist. (Second reading) *Items marked with an asterisk were passed by suspending the three-reading rule During New Business, an additional four items were passed, including: Resolution No. 2024-107: Adopting and Amending ordinance No. 2023-66 (Permanent 2024 Appropriations) by appropriating from unappropriated funds in the General Fund, School Resource Officer Fund and Pension Fund and transferring funds from the General Fund to the Pension Fund and declaring an emergency to exist. Resolution No.: 2024-108: Approving and ratifying the prior acts of the Department Heads and Safety Service Director and approving "Then and Now" Certificates for said expenditures and declaring an emergency. Resolution No.: 2024-109: Authorizing and approving the proposed Plan of Operation and Governance for the City of Fostoria's electric aggregation program to establish and implement an electricity aggregation program and declaring an emergency. Resolution No.: 2024-110: Authorizing the Director of Public Service and Safety to execute an agreement with Public Consulting Group, LLC to facilitate participation in the Ambulance Supplemental Payment Program, and declaring an emergency to exist. The meeting entered into an executive session for personnel matters, specifically to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion or compensation of a public employee or official, with no business to follow.