[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6623222,"mediaKeyId","2776129-356129641c04b8b653c0a6befda1c296","parentId",2776129,"title","Board approves agenda and moves to executive session; other items presented as staff recommendations","audioSeconds",3060,"startMs",570000,"endMs",3630000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776129-356129641c04b8b653c0a6befda1c296&start=570&end=3630","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776129-356129641c04b8b653c0a6befda1c296/thumbnail_570000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6623222/Oconee-County/Georgia/Board-approves-agenda-and-moves-to-executive-session-other-items-presented-as-staff-recommendations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623222-fff200243d158b0b79c71199e99604a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773142122&Signature=PQ4UMz7iNTsZJLodP3uht9xJ5pBhVLwhrkiVo08Pnfvo917EI0TxxfIllOkeqEc~aCX2jvL2laBBfcCOypwck5mXOWt~hm3r9dw8mJ9aEc71RRERbSl9XGwQEYkQdzMqDKLEy8RF67xu8C008FUbByryM9rH3Z3SpwOeit1J92mEkn9Jy8qSzaloJvBcpTJARDw6vpDhAil4RNuZjpz1SdUupfCLfH8JBHR7~FxYCBdqYeiKW7JDBUZtcZV2UCOdWq0AYuNtn1ydH8l2lW3EH-s0Hd5QFap-l-xNJn6KNOc08usN3w9WtA~~~qWkfhfaLBf7Qga-27qwezd4MN9uXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oconee County","date","2025-03-26T13:06:04.843Z","article","The Oconee County Board of Commissioners approved its meeting agenda at the start of Tuesday's session and later voted to enter executive session to discuss land, personnel and litigation. Several staff presentations and procurement recommendations were made during the open session; formal contract awards and requested data will return to the commission for action.

Votes recorded during the meeting:

- Approve agenda: Motion made and seconded; chair called for those in favor and the motion carried (verbal affirmative votes recorded). No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

- Enter executive session to discuss land, personnel and litigation: Motion made and seconded; commission voted \"Aye,\" and the motion carried.

Other items discussed but not voted on included a staff recommendation to award RFP 2501009 for hydrant flow testing (recommendation to award to the top-ranked proposer) and a staff recommendation to terminate the initial Dawson Park design engagement and proceed with Carter Engineering for the park design; both will return to the board with contract documents for formal action. The National EMS annual report was presented as an informational item; commissioners requested payer-mix data from the provider.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOC Agenda Setting Meeting March 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the March session, the Oconee County Board of Commissioners approved the meeting agenda and later voted to enter executive session to discuss land, personnel and litigation. Staff presented recommendations on contracts and an EMS annual report; those items will return for formal action where required.","taxTitle","Oconee County, Georgia","taxId",28542,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6623227,"Staff recommends awarding fire-hydrant flow-testing contract; no formal board vote recorded",94,612000,706000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776129-356129641c04b8b653c0a6befda1c296&start=612&end=706","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776129-356129641c04b8b653c0a6befda1c296/thumbnail_612000.jpg","/articles/6623227/Oconee-County/Georgia/Staff-recommends-awarding-fire-hydrant-flow-testing-contract-no-formal-board-vote-recorded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623227-0c2f8bad46199c519b1f28473e7daea6/orig.mp4?Expires=1773142122&Signature=f4RU5kw-fiKwy71H7u~MIhuqvxHIp6vKp-VEUUiRd2h6JHckXVDOZk46VrM2ABFJkDtlF1XYBGvT0XN787YBaF4h7wJgKdHVMJa7PwtcXu0PL4V6kDxOj1Wsb4YJoElh07ubToKb8iKa9OFCuri78UcpdFbdWUonGymuV2hCbIBXc9U2L-v1DNnPNy-FFIUBSL9i5dj6WIj7UzoJ6p8JSqEPCzvEaoQROTytwiMPp5yJpQUQyypxH3wLjYu8mrKlD5Fq6gLuzkngSw~slgmnX2xVIu-qLuTJ1uc2f6jvmvpQdo6flHE3rQd6-z-~kozMfGDmKtG2TAGMIE5l1yw9rQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Water Resources staff presented a recommendation to award the ISO fire hydrant flow testing and inspection contract to the proposal judged most qualified and best priced, and outlined a plan to inspect and maintain the county's hydrants over a five-year cycle.

A Water Resources presenter identified the RFP (2501009) as requesting hydrant evaluation, flow testing, routine maintenance (including painting and GPS coordinates) and said an evaluation committee judged proposals on qualifications and pricing. The presenter said the committee recommended awarding the contract to the highest-rated proposer (referred to in the presentation as \"Elves\"). Staff said the county has roughly 2,700 hydrants.

Staff described an inspection and maintenance schedule that would flow 20% of hydrants each year and spread maintenance across a five-year cycle. The presentation included the cost/qualification trade-offs considered by the evaluation committee.

The commission did not take a formal vote to award the contract during the meeting. The item was presented as a staff recommendation; any award, contract documents and formal motion will need to be returned to the commission for action.","Water Resources staff recommended awarding the ISO fire hydrant flow testing and inspection program contract to the highest-scored proposer and described a five-year maintenance approach covering roughly 2,700 hydrants; commissioners did not vote on the recommendation at the meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6623232,"Oconee County staff recommend Carter Engineering for Dawson Park design; gymnasiums to be procured separately",149,714000,863000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776129-356129641c04b8b653c0a6befda1c296&start=714&end=863","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776129-356129641c04b8b653c0a6befda1c296/thumbnail_714000.jpg","/articles/6623232/Oconee-County/Georgia/Oconee-County-staff-recommend-Carter-Engineering-for-Dawson-Park-design-gymnasiums-to-be-procured-separately","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623232-9d014ad3665d8fc2c3d8edcc49ae6c74/orig.mp4?Expires=1773142122&Signature=FZWXkjit5eFdD3ltkOfkqMqz80tZIfJYhNiBaEbBUUd~2CKGOIn9IsnBLph-O~XppEufojozzAxbMDJ3hIZX01wHmUhv6NboTF7AmJfuAUc~6CZ73G3QGEgFwTvw8qD5zkAFD983M~zPBVjDSqktQrwokDqoQm1NYjWkd8is1vQFNnf3IuEzzeCN6vUiV1CdHvVhuCQTgSQ~urjdM4VHTODEnLI1BmpQSoqXTiVWGtz-ugFFmiJbH-FhlInz5HjHqhtoaCEhVgYUq1jv96eIS7oEV4hdOFZ0Hnwh9t32CG7LJK-5tt5EQb6Gt35ZtO6rrbfudThLkULU53~qxmD4jA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Oconee County staff recommended on Tuesday that the Board of Commissioners move forward with Carter Engineering for the primary design services for Dawson Park and treat the two gymnasiums and a Field Services Building as separate design procurements.

Justin, a county staff member who presented the item, said the county previously contracted with a firm identified in the presentation as Los to perform schematic concept design and that proposal pricing had been based on a $15 million estimated construction budget. Justin said Los' submittal did not include all the engineering scope the county wanted, so county staff evaluated an alternate proposal from Carter Engineering and recommended switching vendors for the core park design.

Justin said Carter Engineering's proposal for the park design — excluding the two gymnasiums and the Field Services Building — was $759,900. He said the county plans to terminate the contract with Los and direct-source, using selection criteria, separate architectural/engineering contracts for the two gymnasiums and the Field Services Building and return those contracts to the commission for approval.

On scheduling, Justin said staff expects to advertise construction bids for Dawson Park by the second quarter of next year and to return architectural services contracts for the gymnasiums and Field Services Building to the commission by the end of the second quarter of this year. Commissioners discussed financing options during the meeting and noted the project could be the largest the county has undertaken. One commissioner urged staff to begin evaluating financing approaches, including reallocation of the current SPLOST and possible inclusion in the next SPLOST cycle.

The commission did not take a formal vote on the staff recommendation at the meeting; Justin said staff would bring the recommended contracts and any required termination paperwork back to the board. The item remains subject to formal contract action and appropriation as part of the county budget process.","County staff told commissioners they will terminate the first design contract and proceed with Carter Engineering for most park design work, while contracting architecture and engineering for two gymnasiums and a field services building separately.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6623237,"National EMS reports improved response times, outlines costs and new services to Oconee County commissioners",2501,1018000,3519000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776129-356129641c04b8b653c0a6befda1c296&start=1018&end=3519","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776129-356129641c04b8b653c0a6befda1c296/thumbnail_1018000.jpg","/articles/6623237/Oconee-County/Georgia/National-EMS-reports-improved-response-times-outlines-costs-and-new-services-to-Oconee-County-commissioners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623237-edde6a3a9f3215463d109b224dcd9601/orig.mp4?Expires=1773142122&Signature=LXe5WbcfpdbDn3yN1BSlIqSflZUwaSqZHbYVo9WPmR9cOGlo9ycf8xXPlbVMlp8tRjgVmnrI1NF0w5IBkeYn825JNe4qCRI-trlX8pgolshFvrSycq7mkvJZZdmV9A2~DZBg~E2yb2Qu1EnVK9uAZNrCXjrdruSnJ3dl4pbnpe2pmH6daL58d0YkXU~eC89H~gTxQpZcxc837EFBgEZSWDTZYCMljZANpZB2cs23kSIgJSPqk1SQZdf3iaIzxVL7EctHL48yY3BPARVRJ9yp3-tmTkgJZgEwjq~yhI4s-UNof-B0tRrMj5uYw2ELK-C9k~TP8R74k5GTYtO-ILw1QQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","National EMS, the county's contracted ambulance provider, told the Oconee County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday that it met its memorandum-of-agreement response-time target in 2024 and described new clinical protocols, equipment upgrades and the financial pressures that underpin ambulance billing.

John Bridal, vice president of operations for National EMS, said the service received 4,111 calls in Oconee County in 2024 and transported 2,812 patients, a roughly 60% transport rate. Bridal said priority-1 response times — the most urgent calls such as chest pain and severe trauma — averaged 9 minutes and 6 seconds last year and that the service met its goal for those calls 93.3% of the time, exceeding the 90% threshold set in the county's memorandum of agreement (MOU).

The presentation included operational and clinical changes. Bridal said National added 12-lead EKG transmission capability for advanced EMTs and EMTs so lower-level crews can transmit EKGs to hospitals for physician interpretation. He said the service instituted a medication cross-check and introduced a ‘‘care navigator’’ protocol to consult with patients considering refusal of transport. He also described telehealth services available at no cost to Georgia Medicaid recipients.

Bridal described equipment investments and fleet status: National received three new ambulances in 2024 and expected additional deliveries, said it had no ambulances older than eight years assigned to Oconee County, and planned to add three automatic CPR devices (LUCAS) and new stretchers and stair chairs. He said National had refreshed vendor service arrangements so that original equipment manufacturers now service monitors and stretchers.

On quality assurance, Bridal said National employs a full-time quality assurance manager who works with medical director Dr. Kurt Horst of Piedmont Medical Group. He reported 11 STEMI (heart attack) activations, 29 stroke activations and 17 trauma activations in Oconee County in 2024 and said monthly QA reviews helped ‘‘stop several bad outcomes before they've happened.’'

The presentation also explained the provider's finances and billing practices. Bridal said National is privately held and ‘‘financially sound’’; he laid out published billing rates and described why ambulance charges have risen. He said the company bills $47.82 per mile and listed an administrative non-emergent fee of $253. Bridal said the county subsidy — $16,666.66 per month under the current subsidy — covers about $547.94 per day of readiness costs and that a two-ambulance readiness posture costs roughly $7,200 per day.

Commissioners asked about payer mix, billing differences between counties served by National and how deaths or nonemergent pickups are billed. Bridal said Medicare and Medicaid reimburse at lower rates and that payer mix varies by county; he estimated Medicare/Medicaid comprise roughly 55–60% of his calls but said he would provide exact figures to the commission. On non-emergency administrative calls (including some deceased calls), Bridal said the typical administrative fee billed is $253 and that higher charges may apply when advanced interventions occur on scene.

Bridal urged residents to contact National's revenue cycle staff about bills; he said the company offers payment plans and forgiveness in appropriate cases. He also told commissioners National is pursuing state-level changes to require insurers to put ambulance providers in network so bills are paid directly to providers, and that National would seek local elected officials' support for the legislation when it is refiled.

The commission took no formal action on the presentation. Bridal provided printed copies of his presentation on request and left contact information for follow-up.","National EMS told the Oconee County Board of Commissioners it met contractual response-time goals in 2024, described new clinical and equipment upgrades, and detailed the service's billing, subsidy and readiness costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves agenda and moves to executive session; other items presented as staff recommendations

Staff recommends awarding fire-hydrant flow-testing contract; no formal board vote recorded

Oconee County staff recommend Carter Engineering for Dawson Park design; gymnasiums to be procured separately

National EMS reports improved response times, outlines costs and new services to Oconee County commissioners