Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lodi Area EMS Commission moves funds to high-yield account, holds closed-session personnel review
Summary
At its April 15 meeting in Lodi, the Lodi Area EMS Commission voted unanimously to transfer a money-market account into a high-yield account to avoid bank fees, approved routine minutes and financials, and met in closed session to discuss personnel matters without taking public action on one item; a follow-up meeting on the interim chief is set for April 29.
The Lodi Area EMS Commission on April 15, 2026 in Lodi approved moving a money-market account into a high-yield interest account to eliminate bank fees and handled several routine administrative items, then convened a closed session on personnel matters.
The vote to transfer the account came after discussion of bank fees charged to the commission’s money-market account. Commissioner Kevin Kessler moved to move the funds to a high-yield account; Brandon Flanagan seconded. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0. Commissioner Nick Eberle noted the Town of Lodi had previously solicited input from local banks and suggested the EMS commission also investigate local banking options.
The commission approved its agenda and the March 18, 2026 minutes by unanimous votes earlier in the meeting, and it approved the treasurer’s financial reports after Interim Chief Amie Brown brought the records up to date. Chair Nancy Long also agreed to sign and mail the engagement letter with accounting firm KerberRose on April 16, 2026.
The commission moved into closed session under Wisconsin Statutes §19.85(1)(f) and §19.85(1)(c) at 7:39 p.m. to discuss certain financial, medical or personnel histories and to consider employment matters, including the status of the interim chief and matters concerning the former EMS assistant chief. The closed session ended at 9:20 p.m. When the commission returned to open session it reported two items: no public action was taken on the first personnel matter concerning the former assistant chief because discussing it in public would likely have a substantial adverse effect on the person’s reputation; and a follow-up meeting about the interim chief was scheduled for April 29, 2026 at 6 p.m. in the Town of West Point.
In her chief’s report, Interim Chief Amie Brown summarized call-data and applicant/interview outcomes and flagged several administrative items for the commission to consider. She said Captain Johnson had been told she would have a life-insurance policy through Lodi Area EMS but was denied enrollment when trying to sign up (the denial involved Mr. Bertz at the time of enrollment). Brown asked the commission to explore establishing a VEBA account through the state, said the EMS will purchase airway manikins to train staff on the SALAD technique for difficult airways, and noted the station will host the Columbia County Fire and EMS Chief Association quarterly meeting. She also raised website privacy/terms language and the option of recording meetings and posting them on YouTube, and said she has collected quotes for bay lighting.
The commission listed future agenda items including the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with West Point, continued review of financial reports, handbook pay-and-benefits revisions, and election of officers. The commission tentatively set its next meeting for May 20, 2026 at 3 p.m.
Actions recorded during the meeting included approval of the agenda, approval of the March minutes, approval of the financial reports, the account-transfer motion to a high-yield account, entry to and exit from closed session, scheduling the April 29 follow-up meeting on the interim chief, and adjournment. Vote tallies for motions recorded in the minutes were unanimous (6-0).
