Bonner County ambulance board approves medical director contract, renews transport agreements and clears claims

The Bonner County Ambulance Service District board approved a one-year medical director contract and renewed annual transport contracts with local providers during a regular meeting. The board also approved FY25 claims batch number 51 and discussed benefit and bookkeeping transitions as the district moves toward independent accounting while remaining with PERSI.

The board approved a medical director agreement between the district and Dr. Ryan Jenkins for the 2026 fiscal year, with the contract to commence Oct. 1, 2025, for an annual cost of $45,360 to be paid in monthly installments of $3,780. The motion was moved, seconded and approved by roll call; no public comment or additional deliberation was recorded on the item.

The board also approved annual medical transport contracts for several providers, as read into the record by staff. The providers and the amounts stated in the meeting record were: Clark Fork Valley Ambulance — $48,690 annually (installments of $4,057.50); Priest Lake EMTs, Inc. — $48,690 annually (installments of $4,057.50); Kootenai County Emergency Medical Service System — $9,564 annually (installments of $797). The Schweitzer Fire District amount was read into the record as $48,082 in the initial presentation but a later recitation of the motion listed $41,082; that discrepancy appears in the meeting transcript. The board moved, seconded and approved the transport agreements by roll call vote.

The board approved EMS claims batch number 51 totaling $19,964.89. Staff told the board the largest invoice in the batch was a billing from System Design West for $7,214.90. The motion to approve the claims was moved, seconded and approved by roll call with no public comment.

Board members asked staff how the annual transport contract amounts were calculated. Staff responded that prior administrations set base amounts and the district has applied a roughly 3% annual increase since 2019 rather than recalculating costs from scratch each year. A commissioner asked whether crossover transports (moving nonresidents from border areas) could create payment gaps; staff said these contracts cover services when providers come into Bonner County and that crossover transport was not an issue under the described agreements.

In miscellaneous business, a commissioner updated the board on benefits and insurance. Human resources (Kevin) has reviewed base-pay and benefit calculations and presented options for whether the ambulance district should procure its own insurance policy or remain on the county plan. The board stated its intention that the ambulance district be accounted for separately from the county for bookkeeping purposes while remaining with PERSI. The commissioner said the district will continue on the current PERSI arrangement for now and that staff will work through the transition details, including ongoing coordination between the district bookkeeper and county treasurer and clerk.

The board was told that roughly $200,000 previously held back will be pulled into the district budget; the presenter said that improves the district's starting position for the next fiscal year but does not remove the possibility of a tax (the participant referred to risk without giving a definitive outcome). The board also discussed staffing levels and the mix of paramedics and medics as a future review item once the benefits and accounting transition is complete.

The board noted a temporary increase in the bookkeeper’s pay to cover extra workload during the transition and agreed to review the bookkeeper’s rate and workload after approximately 90 days to determine a long-term arrangement. The chair asked that staff keep channels open for employees to raise concerns; staff said they have not received specific objections to the district direction to date.

No members of the public spoke during the public-comment period. The meeting was adjourned.