The newly formed EMS authority serving Brackenridge, Harrison and Tarentum is getting down to hiring an executive director and setting a fee for property owners to have ambulance service next year.
But the decisions will take a little time.
“We are in the process of reviewing materials and tweaking job descriptions,” said Nicole Kocon, one of seven residents appointed to the board.
“Nothing will happen right away, but we expect it over the summer.”
The Alle-Kiski Emergency Services Authority, approved by the Pennsylvania Department of State, merged Eureka Community Ambulance in Tarentum and Citizens Hose EMS in Harrison.
It is expected to salvage ambulance service in the area after EMS leaders said former operations were not sustainable long-term.
Under the new authority, property owners in member municipalities will pay a yearly fee, tentatively expected at about $85.
State law requires a public hearing before the fee can be set.
The authority, which also will be funded with insurance reimbursements, is expected to begin operations in January.
Members said the fee services hearing will be the single most important milestone to be reached this year.
Until the annual EMS fee is legally adopted following a public hearing, the authority has no committed independent revenue stream and no basis for borrowing.
Once the fee is adopted, lenders can project repayment and financing options will open up.
Details considered in setting the fee will include total operating cost projections, earlier estimated at about $2.4 million. The board also will consider call volume by municipality, insurance reimbursements, equipment replacement schedules, household counts and expected fee revenues.
Kocon, a former Highlands School Board member, grew up in Brackenridge and also lived in Tarentum before recently moving to Harrison.
Her background in finances and operations spans 25 years with nonprofit and higher education, having managed organizations with budgets of more than $100 million. She also has experience in personnel management, strategic planning and policy development.
“We hope to see people at the meetings,” Kocon said. “We want the public to be fully informed.”
One item that was ticked off Wednesday was the creation of email addresses for the board. They will be listed on the website, allekiskiemergency.org, once established.
Board member Jamie Nee, who also serves as a Harrison commissioner, said three key committees were created: finance, operations and personnel.
“Over the next several months, the board will be focused on reviewing and developing policies, job descriptions and bylaws to ensure a strong organizational foundation,” Nee said.
She said hiring a solicitor is a priority. Until then, the board will work with Mette Attorneys at Law, which helped with the authority formation.
The board also will retain Robb Consulting LLC to support implementation. The consulting firm is collaborating with Citizens Hose and Eureka officials to collect operational and financial data. The information will be used to develop a comprehensive proposal for the authority.
A public fee hearing is expected to be scheduled by late summer or early fall.
Nee, a social worker, serves as director of Case Management at Allegheny General Hospital. She has worked in healthcare more than 35 years.
“This is an exciting time for our communities as we work collaboratively to build a strong and sustainable foundation for future generations,” she said.
Coming up
Who: Alle-Kiski Emergency Services Authority board
What: regular meeting
When: 7 p.m. May 26
Where: Harrison Township Municipal Building, 1 Municipal Way, Harrison