Commissioners set 9-1-1 briefing, press for answers as dispatch fund nears depletion; EMS chiefs outline equipment and budget needs

Geary County commissioners on Thursday agreed to add a formal briefing on the county1s 9-1-1 fund to next week1s agenda and to invite the sheriff and police chiefs from Milford and Grandview to present options as reserves approach depletion.

The county1s finance director, Tammy Robinson, told the commission that preliminary analysis shows the 9-1-1 fund could have about $2,000 on hand at the start of 2026 if spending and revenues follow current trends. Robinson said a roughly $150,000 payment is scheduled for January and that the county is planning to pay it in the February payment cycle. "If they do what I have calculated, they're gonna have about $2,000 starting 2026, and that's it," Robinson said during the meeting.

Robinson recommended a joint session that includes the sheriff and area police chiefs so the analytical work and immediate options can be reviewed publicly. Commissioners agreed and asked staff to place the item on next week1s agenda and invite the relevant agencies.

County and city EMS leaders also presented operational and capital needs. Junction City representatives gave quarterly and annual billing and revenue figures and outlined rising operational demands. The EMS presentation listed 82 total transfers in the year (including 46 out-of-county) and a rise in public assistance calls (examples: Lyft assists, welfare checks and non-911 movement assistance). The EMS chief described individual high-utilization patients and the absence of a local social-work capacity as drivers of some calls.

EMS leaders said replacement and equipment costs are significant. The commission heard that a new medic unit (ambulance) typically exceeds $300,000, that a modern defibrillator may be about $50,000, and that a power-load cot system tied to a new ambulance is quoted at $56,002.70 this year. An engine replacement for a 2017 ambulance has a purchase order pending at roughly $30,000 for motor work. "That med unit is over $300,000... the defibrillator is gonna be around $50,000," the EMS presenter said; "the power load system... is $56,002.70." (Speakers: see list below.)

Commissioners and EMS leaders discussed capital planning (CIP) and an interlocal agreement with the city that would coordinate replacement schedules and cost-sharing. County staff said the county has not finalized a multi-year agreement with the city for support beyond 2025 and urged that CIP schedules and requests be shared so county budgeting can include EMS equipment needs. "Just because it wasn't in there is has no bearing on that; it is a fluid document that could change monthly," a county commissioner said during the discussion.

On billing and receivables, the county finance director told the board she had requested missing November and December EMS bills so those expenses would post to the 2024 budget rather than 2025. The county will process those once corrected forms are received.

Commissioners directed staff to schedule the 9-1-1 briefing for the next meeting and to invite the sheriff and police chiefs to review the analytical projections and options. The EMS department said it will continue negotiations with the city about a possible interlocal arrangement to cover capital costs and asked the commission to consider contributions for specific items (for example, two-thirds of a power-load request). No binding capital appropriation was adopted at Thursday1s meeting.