Agreement reached on ambulance barn contract

An accord has been reached on the contract between the City of Sundance and Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) to rent space for ambulances in the fire hall.

This arrangement has been ongoing for a few years, but the council wanted to clear up a couple of issues before renewing it.

Discussion has taken place for the last couple of months on what those issues are and how to solve them, so CEO Micki Lyons visited the council last week to make sure everyone was on the same page.

Mayor Paul Brooks described the two problems, starting with the bay door being left open.

“The problem we’ve got with the ambulance barn is that when they go to check the ambulances every day, whether it’s 12 degrees or 40 degrees, they open the door and they leave it open for 30 to 45 minutes,” said Brooks.

“Unfortunately, because of its proximity to the grocery store…it lights all those people getting groceries on fire.”

Brooks explained that the plan had been to install a regular door for the ambulance staff to access when they do checks, rather than using the overhead bay doors.

The second problem, he said, is that a cage was installed over the thermostat to prevent people from changing the temperature, “But it would seem that they find it and turn it back up.”

Fire Chief Gari Gill confirmed that the fire side of the building is maintained at 52 degrees, but Brooks said the ambulance side has repeatedly been turned up into the 70s.

For this issue, Brooks said, alternatives discussed include to add a separate propane tank or ask CCMSD if there might be, “Some rules that you could impose upon your people”.

Lyons was not sure a new tank will be necessary.

“We have changed our process and so they are no longer opening the door every time they just go in. Unless they need to start up the ambulance for some reason, they’re not opening that door,” she said.

“I don’t see any reason why anyone needs to put the expense out to put another door in to make sure that doesn’t happen unless we continue to see that this is a problem.”

Public Works Director Mac Erickson, however, commented that, “In my opinion, it’s money well spent to put a walk-through door in for them.”

This, he said, allows separation for the departments for liability reasons and also reduces wear and tear on the overhead door.

Council Member Joe Wilson stated that he agrees the best way to solve the thermostat issue would be separate propane tanks, which would allow both sides to set their own temperature without any additional cost coming out of the firefighters’ budget.

The city would cover the cost associated with installing another propane tank and plumbing it in, said Erickson. CCMSD would then receive the bill for the propane use.

Lyons agreed with the suggestion.

Brooks also stated that the city would be responsible for the new door. “It’s our building,” he said.

With all parties in agreement, City Attorney Mark Hughes was asked to make an addition to the contract to state that CCMSD will be responsible for the propane cost, which will be at the same rate received by the city.

This will be the only change, as there will be no cost to the hospital for any construction or installation of the new door or propane tank.

The contract will then be sent to CCMSD’s attorney, Kara Ellsbury.