Does the city of Ortonville need an ambulance?

At the Ortonville City Council meeting on December 7. 2009 discussion was held as to hiring the new ambulance director. Perhaps this is the time to open a discussion on the future of the Ortonville Ambulance. Why does the City of Ortonville maintain an ambulance? The city owns the hospital. Why is the city shouldering the expense of maintaining an ambulance that operates in the red when it would be run more efficiently and effectively through Rick Ash and the hospital. WHY? Why does Mayor Blair Johnson continue to use tax dollars to pay for the ambulance? Why are city tax dollars spent to maintain an ambulance? Why won't the city council answer that question?

The ambulance could be more efficient and have oversight if operated through the hospital. Something that it does not have now. Members of the Ambulance Board have ignored city policy in the past. Over the past few years good people have left the ambulance service because of the bad management practices. The people of this area deserve better.

Ortonville has a fine hospital that is second to none. Many people have worked hard to maintain it and to build it up to be the shinning star in the heart of Ortonville. They have the experience and expertise to run a medical facility. What background does Kathy Korth, and Rusty Dimberg, have in financial and Medical management that makes them experts? Why are lay people overseeing medical treatment? Arrival at the scene of an accident in a timely manner and the subsequent care is best provided by the direction of the hospital.

The ambulance service would be better run under the direction of the hospital at NO COST to the public AND better supervision by the experts who have served Ortonville and the surrounding communities for years. There is NO reason to pay someone else to come in and run an ambulance when Rick Ash and the doctors at the hospital are perfectly capable of running it efficiently and effectively.

According to the Draft City Council meeting on Dec. 7, 2009 Consent Agenda is item c. below:




In the minutes above Kathy Korth "reported that in order to qualify for the Ambulance Director position you must have served on the Ortonville Ambulance service for at least one year." Who's rule is that? Is it a City Ordinance? Did the City vote on such a rule? Is this an Ambulance Board requirement? Does the Ambulance Board dictate the rules to the City of Ortonville? Who's in charge? First we find the EDA calling the shots for the City Council and now the Ortonville Ambulance tells the City Council who they can hire?

Then we find a motion by Berkner and seconded by Randelman to interview the "only" internal applicant? Wouldn't that be a convenient way to get a job? No competition? Is the appearance of "Fair play" supposed to be found in the Ambulance Committee minutes below?



"The Ortonville Ambulance has conducted an internal search, from the existing Ortonville Ambulance Roster, for a replacement director. That applicant was Kathy Korth." (emphasis mine) Who conducted this search? What was the procedure? Where are the notes?

Kathy Korth is interviewed by Rusty Dimberg and Kim Muenchow? Two people she serves on the board with? Does anyone oversee the Ambulance? Who are they accountable to? Themselves? Was Kathy Korth ever called into question regarding inaccurate Ambulance Board Minutes? Did the Ambulance Board correct the minutes? In the above interview did the two Ambulance Board Members question Kathy Korth about any violations charges? Did they question her about the complaint made that Kathy Korth boasted at an ambulance meeting that she was going to get an EMT fired? How would such a statement made at an Ambulance meeting make other EMT's feel? Would they feel safe in their jobs? Did Rusty Dimberg and Kim Muenchow check references? Did they talk to other EMT's? Would EMT's say anything contrary about a board member who had made such a statement?

When the City left a huge windrow in front of the Ambulance barn after a snowfall and an EMT was concerned that the ambulance would not be able to bust through it if there had been an emergency call and then shoveled the windrow away by himself why was he chastised for it? He was chastised for shoveling snow so that the ambulance driveway was clear? Why did the Ambulance Board consisting of Kathy Korth make no move to insure that the ambulance driveway is kept clear? Why did Rusty Dimberg chastise that EMT for shoveling the snow? How safe are the EMT's from injustice?

Do Rusty Dimberg and Kim Muenchow owe any allegiance to Kathy Korth?Did Rusty Dimberg and Kim Muenchow ever participate in any questionable Ambulance Board procedures? Could this interview be considered impartial? Who wrote these minutes? Why hasn't the writer been identified?

Is there a creation of urgency in the appointment? Why is there trouble with the EMSRB? Why isn't the hospital in charge? Considering the irregularities in the Ortonville Ambulance Service for many, many years should one wonder at the audacity of some people? How qualified is Kathy Korth?
Is it time to put the people first? Is it time to let the hospital take charge of the Ambulance?