Thompson named president of New Lex council The dynamics of New Lexington’s council will shift in 2015, that movement started Monday with Trent Thompson’s selection as council president. Thompson, who is in the final year of his first term and will be running for reelection next fall, served on the village finance committee last year and will take over the reins from former council president Polly Pletcher who says this will be her final year on the council. “It’s time for some younger people to move in. Trent’s young on the list and it’s time for him to get his feet wet,” said Pletcher who has served 11 years on the board including the past 10 years as council president. “We need to improve upon our finances, right the ship and set goals,” Thompson said. “If we continue to work together as a group and continue to implement changes we have already decided upon and look for new ways to improve our financial situation I think we will be in good shape.” Council selects a new president for the year each January plus picks various committee members for the new year. Also at Monday’s council session, EMS billing clerk Corlyn Altier reported the EMS billable transports decreased by two percent over the past year and revenue is down by nine percent, the second consecutive year with a significant decline in those areas. According to the report, 2014 revenue received thru Dec. 31 was $276,619.83, compared to 2013 when that figure was $305,251.54 and despite the fact that the total billable runs were about the same each year. Revenue from 2012 totaled $360,534. The report cites two factors in the decline in revenue in 2014; first the “cost sharing” with Ohio Medicaid which went into effect last January that eliminated the 20 percent the department received after Medicare pays their portion for patients who have Ohio Medicaid as a secondary provider. Altier said that cost the department between $12- $18,000. The report also states that squad transports are also down, especially over the past few months. That number peaked in March at over 100 runs and began to steadily decline last summer to less than 20 in December. The amount collected through squad runs is important to the village as it continues to dig out of debts to both its General and Fire and EMS Funds. Council also approved an ordinance Monday that would require a $25 non-transport fee, which would be charged if an individual would call for EMS services but would decline a transport for medical services. Email at brockwell@perrytribune
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 18:59:27 +0000
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