(A) Purpose.
(1) This section is for the purpose of providing adequate transportation for the sick and injured and promoting the public health, safety, comfort and welfare of the citizens of the city and adjacent areas as defined by the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board (EMSRB) primary service area, legally described as follows and as periodically approved by said board:
(2) The primary service area includes the following cities: Big Falls, Littlefork Townships:
In Koochiching County:
T64NR27W - sections 2, 3
T65NR24W - sections 2 through 11 and the West 1/2 of 1, 12
T65NR25W - sections 1 through 21
T65NR27W
T66NR24W - All but the east 1/2 of 1, 12, 13, 24, 25, 36
T66NR25W
T66NR26W
T66NR27W
T67NR22W
T67NR23W
T67NR24W
T67NR25W
T67NR26W
T67NR27W
T68RN22W - sections 7 through 36
T68NR23W
T68NR24W
T68NR25W
T68NR26W
T69NR23W - sections 31 through 34
T69NR24W - sections 31 through 36
T69NR25W
T69NR26W
T69NR27W
T153NR25W- sections 1 through 18, 23, 24
T153NR26W - sections 1 through 4, 9 through 16
T154NR25W
T154NR26W - sections 1 through 18, 21 through 23, 33 through 36
T155NR25W
T155NR26W
T155NR27W - sections 1, 2, 11 through 14, 23 through 26, 35, 36
T156NR25W
T156NR26W
T156NR27W
T156NR28W
T156NR29W
T157NR25W
T157NR26W
T157NR27W
T157NR28W - sections 1 through 3, 9 through 17, 19 through 36
T157NR29W - sections 25 through 27 and 34 through 36
In St. Louis County:
T66NR21W- sections 4 through 8, 17, 18
T67NR20W - sections 6, 7
T67NR21W - sections 1 through 12, 15 through 22, 28 through 33
T68NR20W - sections 18, 18, 29 through 32
T68NR21W
T69NR212 - sections 19 through 36
(3) This primary service area is the legal primary service area designated by the EMSRB. Any proposed changes must be reported to the EMSRB for prior approval.
(B) Volunteer ambulance service established. There is hereby established a volunteer ambulance service for the city and the above described areas to provide adequate provisions for the transportation of the sick and injured, and it shall consist of members and the following officers who must be members and EMTs:
(1) Chief - Responsible for the overall supervision of the ambulance service and reporting to the City Council, Koochiching County Ambulance Taxing District Board, County Board of Commissioners, and Members. The Chief shall act as chairperson at regular monthly meetings as needed. The Chief shall be supervised by the City Administrator and shall meet with the Secretary/Treasurer to prepare a "proposed" annual budget to be presented to the members, Littlefork City Council, Koochiching County Ambulance Taxing District, and Koochiching County Board of Commissioners for approval.
(2) Deputy Chief - Shall act on the Chief’s behalf in his or her absence, and shall be: 1) in charge of supplies, 2) vehicle maintenance, and 3) other delegated responsibilities from the Chief.
(3) Secretary/Treasurer - Shall record all activities of the Service, shall notify members of any special meetings, and shall handle business correspondence as necessary. Shall be responsible for calling roll at all meetings and keeping records thereof. Shall meet with the Chief in order to prepare a "proposed" annual budget to be presented to the members, Littlefork City Council, Koochiching County Ambulance Taxing District, and Koochiching County Board of Commissioners for approval. Shall maintain records including number of runs each squad member has responded to each month and report all ambulance run information to the EMSRB in a timely manner.
(4) Training Officer - Shall supervise all In-Service training and coordinate training with the regional trainers. Shall keep the Chief informed as to members' qualifications and maintain permanent training records.
(5) Scheduling Officer - Shall schedule all shifts for all active members for each month. Shall distribute a copy of the monthly calendar to all active members and keep an updated schedule posted in the ambulance.
(C) Membership.
(1) Active members shall be qualified EMTs and First Responders, properly trained and licensed under all applicable Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board (EMSRB) requirements, and have said documentation on file with the training officer and the EMSRB. The active members shall be able-bodied, be not less than 16 years of age, must pass a physical examination and have a valid driver's license.
(2) Each active member shall be expected at all times to maintain and uphold the purpose, standards and ethics of the volunteer ambulance squad.
(3) An applicant may be approved to proceed with the orientation/probation period after a majority vote of the active members. Upon completion of the orientation/probation period the officers shall grant or deny membership to the applicant, subject to confirmation by the City Council.
(D) Election.
(1) The officers shall be elected annually by the active members of the ambulance service at the annual meeting to be held in the first week of June of each year, subject to confirmation by the City Council.
(2) Election of officers shall be nominated from the floor and voted by signed ballot.
(3) Each shall hold office until his or her successor has been duly elected, except that the City Council for good cause shall remove any officer or member at any time after a public hearing.
(E) Discipline.
(1) All members continue service during good behavior and may be removed by the City Council only for good cause after a public hearing and after grounds are alleged in writing by whoever initiates the action. A removal may be initiated in any of the following manners: 1) a majority of the active members present shall vote on the basis for good cause after grounds are put forth in writing by a majority of the officers; 2) the Chief or 3) City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer or the Mayor.
(2) Disciplinary actions:
(a) In general - Ambulance members shall be subject to disciplinary action for failing to fulfill their duties and responsibilities, including observance of rules adopted by the Littlefork Ambulance Service. It is the policy of the service to administer disciplinary actions without discrimination. Every disciplinary action shall be for just cause and the crewmember being disciplined may request a hearing or use the grievance procedure with respect to any disciplinary action taken. The Chief, in consultation with the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer, shall investigate any allegations on which disciplinary action is to be considered before any disciplinary action is taken.
(b) Disciplinary action steps - except for severe infractions in which the following steps may be omitted, disciplinary action against any crewmember shall be progressive and follow the steps listed below.
1. Oral reprimand - This action will be documented in writing and kept in the crewmember’s file for one year and then removed as long as no subsequent reprimands or other disciplinary actions have been instituted.
2. Written reprimand - A written reprimand shall state the crewmember is being warned for misconduct; describe the misconduct and past actions taken to correct the problem; demand immediate correction of the problem by the crewmember and outline future penalties should the problem continue. The crewmember shall be given a copy of the reprimand and sign the original acknowledging receipt of the reprimand. The crewmember’s signature does not admit guilt or agreement with the reprimand. The reprimand shall be removed from the crewmember’s file after one year as long as no subsequent reprimands or disciplinary actions have been instituted.
3. Suspension - Prior to suspension or as soon thereafter as possible, the crewmember shall be notified in writing of the reason for the suspension and its length. Upon the completion of the suspension, the crewmember shall be given a written statement outlining further disciplinary action should the misconduct continue. The crewmember shall then meet with the Chief to discuss the corrective action(s) taken by the crewmember before being allowed back to active status. A crewmember may be suspended pending investigation of an allegation of misconduct. A copy of each written statement shall be placed in the crewmember’s personal file, but if the suspension is for investigation and the allegation(s) proves false, the statements shall be removed and the crewmember reinstated to active duty.
i. In reference to paragraphs (B)(3) and (B)(4), a crewmember has ten days after disciplinary action has been taken to appeal to the City of Littlefork Personnel Committee and then the Littlefork City Council. The City Council has three weeks to discuss the appeal and hold a hearing.
4. Dismissal - The Chief may suspend with intent to dismiss a crewmember in extreme circumstances subject to City Council approval, otherwise a council of no less than two Littlefork ambulance officers and the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer may suspend with intent to dismiss any crewmember immediately after the crewmember is given notice in writing. The notice shall contain the reasons for the dismissal, the crewmember’s rights under these rules and the veteran's preference law if he or she is a veteran and a statement indicating that the crewmember may respond to the charges both orally and in writing and that he or she may appear before the City Council before a final decision is made.
(c) Other disciplinary action - The following disciplinary action may be taken against any crewmember after or during step (b)2 above.
Involuntary Demotion - This step shall be taken only if the crewmember does not display the ability or discipline to function at the higher level.
(d) Hearing - In any case of suspension, demotion and/or dismissal, the crewmember shall be granted a hearing before City of Littlefork Personnel Committee and the City Council, if the crewmember submits a written request for such a hearing to the City Administrator within five business days of notification of the action taken. The hearing shall be held within ten business days from the date the request was filed unless there is a mutual agreement on an earlier or later date. If the disciplinary action involves the removal of a veteran, the hearing shall be in accordance with M.S. § 197.46.
(F) Duties of Chief. The ambulance service shall be directed and supervised by the Chief, who shall be supervised by the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer. It shall be the duty of the Chief to keep all ambulance equipment in order, to establish rules and regulations for the use and operation of the same, and otherwise to accomplish the aims of this section. The Chief shall prepare a report and budget annually, by the first week of June, as to the condition of the equipment, needs of the ambulance service, and financial condition. The Chief shall also submit a report and recommendations at every regular meeting of the City Council and shall be responsible for the proper training and discipline of the members of the ambulance service. The Chief may suspend any member for refusal or neglect to obey orders pending a final action by the City Council on his or her discharge or retention as set forth herein.
(G) Training sessions. It shall be the duty of the training officer to hold a monthly meeting of at least one hour duration for the ambulance service for the purpose of giving active members instruction in approved methods of emergency health care.
(H) Compensation. The members and officers of the ambulance service shall receive compensation as determined within the annual budget and as approved by the City Council, the ambulance taxing district board, and the county board.
(I) Establishment of rates. The Chief, Secretary/Treasurer and City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer shall establish a schedule of charges for the use of the ambulance service as are anticipated in the final budget, subject to the approval of the City Council.
(J) Ambulance Fund established. There is hereby established and the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer shall maintain a fund known as the "Ambulance Fund", a record of which shall be kept by the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer, into which shall be paid all monies received from the use of an ambulance and from which all disbursements shall be paid. No disbursement shall be made except by check, draft, or withdrawal carrying the signature of the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer, and Mayor upon receipt of a purchase order.
(K) Records. Upon completion of each ambulance run the attendants on duty shall complete an Emergency Medical Service Record Form or its equivalent as required by the EMSRB. The form shall be submitted to the Secretary who reports the run to the EMSRB in a timely manner, time being of the essence.
(L) Equipment requirements. The ambulance, when in service, shall be equipped with and carry at least the minimum equipment recommended by the EMSRB.
(M) Availability of service. The ambulance service shall offer ambulance service 24 hours per day every day of the year. The failure to furnish the service herein agreed upon because of the unavailability of equipment because it is being used on a previously reported call shall not be taken as a breach of dire care.
(N) Licensing. The ambulance shall possess a valid license issued by the EMSRB.
(O) Guidelines. The Chief shall submit operating guidelines to be approved by the City Council. Guidelines shall remain in effect until modified by the City Council.
(Ord. 83, passed 7-16-1987; Ord. 83A, passed 8-14-2001; Ord. 83B, passed 6-10-2009; Ord. 83C, passed 3-20-2014)