RIVERSIDE CITY COUNCIL

Riverside still waiting on FEMA for EMS monitor grant

By Paul D. Bowker
Posted 8/8/22

RIVERSIDE

Kevin Mills, a member of the Riverside City Council, was ready to jump in a car for a road trip to go see somebody from FEMA personally.

Instead, it’ll come down to a phone …

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RIVERSIDE CITY COUNCIL

Riverside still waiting on FEMA for EMS monitor grant

Posted

RIVERSIDE

Kevin Mills, a member of the Riverside City Council, was ready to jump in a car for a road trip to go see somebody from FEMA personally.

Instead, it’ll come down to a phone call by Riverside Mayor Allen Schneider.

Questions bounced around City Council Chambers like basketballs at the board’s regularly scheduled meeting, August 1, as the possibility of securing an EMS monitor for the city’s fire department rose up for a second straight meeting.

Six months have passed since the City Council approved the purchase of an EMS monitor from LifeMed Safety, pending a FEMA federal grant that would have fully covered the cost of the emergency medical equipment.

But in those six months, FEMA has not approved or disapproved the grant request. The most recent email to FEMA from City Administrator Christine Yancey was not answered,

“I have a real issue, I’d say, with FEMA,” Mills said. “I would love to talk to FEMA and say, ‘What’s your issue?’”

In those six months, the quoted price of an EMS monitor from LifeMed Safety of Brighton, Colorado, has gone up about $1,000 to $43,793 and FEMA’s grant share has decreased from 100% to 90%. Those are changing numbers that cause concern with City Council Person Lois Schneider.

Council Person Edgar McGuire is the only solid “yes” vote at this point, again urging the council to just go ahead and purchase the EMS monitor, regardless of any incoming grant money.

“I just feel like it’s time to pull the trigger on this,” McGuire said.

The EMS monitor would allow Riverside emergency workers to monitor a patient in real time while they wait for an ambulance to arrive. The information is immediately relayed to EMTs in an ambulance or a hospital.

Four of the five City Council members said the fire department, rather than the city, might be able to work the purchase into its Fiscal Year 2023 budget. While those discussions take place, a vote on the city’s possible purchase was delayed.

But what about FEMA?

“I think we need and deserve an answer from FEMA,” Mills said. “I’m pretty strong about wanting to know why.”

3rd Street Project

Paving for roads affected by the $3.3 million Third Street water main project is expected to begin August 15, according to an update provided by Brian Boelk, senior civil engineer of Axiom Consultants. The work will begin with portions of Second and Rose streets, then Third Street.

Boelk said residents east of Greene Street are already on the new water system. The roadwork and paving for Phase I, east of Greene, should be completed by the end of August.

The council approved $3,000 for patching up a gravel part of Washington Street, a result of a water main break in the spring. A more permanent repaving may occur later due to ongoing project work.

The council also approved a payment of $2,546 to All American Concrete for work done on the Railroad Park improvement project.

Rezoning

Following a public hearing, the council approved a rezoning for a business property located on Commercial Drive. Scott Kerkhoff of Midwest Surplus has a purchase agreement with the city for the property, on which he requested a rezoning (C-3 to C-2) so that outdoor storage is approved.

In other action, the council:

Selected Custom Tree Service of Riverside for a tree-trimming project along W61 (Riverside Road) south of the city at a cost of $1,800.

Selected DASH Properties of Iowa City for diseased tree removal at Hall Park and Conservation Park at a cost of $3,900.

Next meeting: The City Council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 15 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting will include a public hearing on a series of proposed city code changes.

 

Riverside, City Council, FEMA, EMS