County benefits from EMS pilot grant program
News | Published on September 17, 2024 at 2:30pm GMT+0000 | Author: Tucker Henderson
0By Tom Hintgen
Otter Tail County Correspondent
County commissioners, on Sept. 10, heard details of a state pilot program for the purposes of authorizing alternative paramedic response methodologies, with primary sites being based in Otter Tail and St. Louis counties.
This pilot program is adding capacity above and beyond the current Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system availability. It is anticipated that this will drastically reduce the times that primary ambulances will be unable to respond due to a lack of staff.
In the event that not even one responder is available from the primary ambulance, the primary ambulance services will make use of existing staffing agreements and mutual aid agreements to ensure proper coverage of the primary service area.
There will not be reduction in service availability. In this instance, the paramedic may still be available nearby to provide care until the time that another ambulance arrives.
Grant goals:
• Increase the timeliness or overall availability or both of Advanced Life Support EMS care in rural areas.
• Work collaboratively with EMS system partners to strengthen the overall EMS system in the respective counties.
County easements approved
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service secured additional options to purchase conservation easements from county landowners. Final approval was given by county commissioners on Sept. 10.
A wetland easement is a legal agreement signed with the United States of America, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, that pays landowners to permanently protect wetlands. Landowners who sell a wetland easement agree that wetlands protected by an easement cannot be drained, filled, leveled or burned.
If these wetlands dry up naturally, they can be farmed, grazed or hayed.
Wetlands covered by an easement are mapped, and a copy of the easement and maps is provided to the landowner. Property subject to a wetland easement remains on local tax rolls.
By selling easements, landowners receive funds to pay down debt, reinvest in capital improvements or buy other lands to maintain and/or expand working lands.