Wymore City Council approves CD transfer for track fund, EMS contracts and 2024 appointments

The Wymore City Council on Dec. 20, 2023, approved several routine and programmatic items, including a $148,000 transfer from the Track Fund into a 24‑month certificate of deposit, confirmation of a contract naming Dr. Jason Kruger as the city’s Emergency Medical Services medical director, and a set of committee appointments for 2024.

The actions, taken at a regular meeting convened by Mayor Collin Meints at 7:04 p.m., also included approval to send six EMS members to the NMSEA conference, renewal of an EMS subscription service, and tabling of a proposed ambulance purchase while staff confirmed procurement requirements tied to ARPA grant funding.

Council passed routine governance and financial motions early in the meeting. Council member Max Allen moved to approve minutes from the prior meeting; Council member Sue Sapp seconded and the motion passed 4-0. The treasurer’s report was approved on a motion by Sapp, seconded by Curt Oblinger (4-0). The council approved payroll and most claims, then approved a separate check (#27804) on a subsequent motion; the latter vote was recorded as 3-0 with Oblinger abstaining.

Angela Meyer of the Track Committee asked the council to move approximately $148,000 from the Track Fund into a two‑year certificate of deposit to earn higher interest. Council member Sue Sapp moved to authorize the transfer, Max Allen seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.

On emergency medical services, the council approved a contract naming Dr. Jason Kruger as the EMS medical director following a motion by Max Allen and a second from Council member Neil Van Boening (motion carried 4-0). The council also approved payment for six EMS personnel to attend the NMSEA conference in Kearney; an initial motion by Allen was rescinded because he could potentially benefit from the travel authorization, and the final motion — moved by Sue Sapp and seconded by Curt Oblinger — passed with Allen recorded as abstaining. The minutes list the conference dates as March 7–10, 2023; the city’s meeting took place in December 2023 and that date in the minutes appears to be an error in the record.

Shawna Schwartz asked the council to renew the EMS subscription to the I Am Responding service for $810 for one year; Sapp moved, Oblinger seconded, and the council approved the renewal 4-0.

Shawna also presented a purchase agreement from North Central Emergency Vehicles for a new ambulance and said ARPA grant funding requires a signed purchase agreement by Dec. 31, 2023. Mayor Meints asked whether the vendor was single‑source; if not, the city would need to solicit bids. Because staff were unsure whether the purchase qualified as single‑source, Council moved to table the purchase agreement until procurement could be confirmed; that motion carried 4-0.

Mayor Meints presented proposed 2024 board and committee appointments and identified several personnel changes and vacancies, including two vacancies on the Housing Authority after prior resignations by Betty Johnson and Joh Palmquist; the council approved the 2024 appointments with the modifications discussed (motion by Max Allen, seconded by Neil Van Boening, carried 4-0).

During public comment, resident Gordon Michaelis thanked the council for turning off street lights during cruise night, noting the Christmas lights looked good. Gage County Supervisor Don Schuller asked residents to complete a county survey to support a grant application to upgrade five bridges — including the Blue River Bridge in Blue Springs — and said County Supervisor Emily Haxby planned to distribute postcards with a QR code linking to the survey to boost participation.

Before adjourning, the council reiterated per diem rules (receipts required; city credit cards not to be used for meals) and noted that the per diem rate had been set at $50 per day at the Dec. 6 meeting. Council member Sue Sapp moved to adjourn at 7:52 p.m.; the minutes record the motion and time but do not specify the vote tally.

The council also tabled three agenda items — Financial Software, a Fairbury Glass estimate for the community center door, and the Grid Resilience Grant preliminary project proposal — pending additional information.

Next steps identified in the meeting record include staff follow-up to verify procurement rules for the ambulance purchase and outreach by Gage County to solicit resident responses to the bridge survey.