Board Meeting October 2025

MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING OF THE NORTH FORK AMBULANCE HEALTH SERVICE DISTRICT
The Regular Monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the North Fork Ambulance Health Service District located in the Counties of Delta, Montrose and Gunnison, Colorado, was held at 110 E. Hotchkiss Ave, Hotchkiss, Colorado, on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 11:02 am.
ROLL CALL
Board members present --Dave Kreutz, Peter Pruett and Bonnie Eisenberg in person. Tyrell Clock virtually. Blake Kinser was absent (excused). Others present: Kathy Steckel, Diane Perry, Tanya Applegate, Jake Dahlman and Marie Stucker in person. No one attended virtually.
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
No additions to the agenda
CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURE
Conflict of Interest forms were filed with the Secretary of State.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No Public Comment
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes from the September 17, 2025 Regular Monthly Meeting were reviewed. Peter Pruett made a motion that the minutes be approved as written. The motion was seconded. All board members voted in favor.
REPORTS
PRESIDENT REPORT
Dave doesn't really have much this month. He has revised the roll call vote system a little and will be asking for votes individually, as he did with the approval of minutes.
FINANCE REPORT
Financials for September were presented and reviewed. Bonnie had a question about shift pay and why it was over budget. It is over the year-to-date budget, but is still projected to come in under the total annual budget.
DISTRICT CHIEF REPORT
Kathy Steckel gave an overview of her report.
Kathy explained how the current government shut down is having an effect on our billing for Medicare. We get an additional 30% added to Medicare reimbursement for being classified as "super rural". This additional funding is not part of the current bill, but it is hoped that it will be restored as part of the negotiations to resolve the shutdown. So, all Medicare billing is on hold. Depending on the length of the shutdown, this could affect our ambulance revenue in 2025, and possibly 2026.
New OB protocols are in place. Crew training for OB and HandTevy has and continues to take place.
Tanya Applegate has been named State of Colorado ALS Provider of the Year by Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment! Way to go Tanya!
The committee to explore options to the Hotchkiss Fire lease will meet for the first time on October 22. The lease was discussed a little. Dave thinks that the monthly fee should include maintenance and utilities. Kathy will ask Hotchkiss Fire to submit a draft lease proposal to start the negotiations.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
No Unfinished Business
NEW BUSINESS:
Presentation of the draft 2026 Budget. Kathy went over the highlights of the draft 2026 Budget. Bonnie had a few items that she noticed were different: Injury Prevention is down significantly -- No Firearm Safety Initiative in 2026; Rent income is zero -- Center for Mental Health is no longer renting an office; Bad Debt is down -- last year it was $16,000, so the number was adjusted down; EMR/EMT/Paramedic Tuition is up -- based on the current staff and who might like to advance next year. Gunnison County taxes are down -- no local growth?
Kathy wanted the board to know that Ralph Clark, an EMT for 43 years, had just stepped down. Tanya also noted that Rick Stelter had also recently stepped down. These are two of our veteran crew members. We are bringing on four new drivers and five to EMT's to stabilize our workforce, and have another round of applicants waiting for interviews. With 60% of the staff over 50, we will hire as needed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Next Regular Meeting is Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 11 am.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further matters before the board, Bonnie Eisenberg made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded. All board members voted in favor. Meeting was adjourned at 11:51pm.