The Dexter Board of Aldermen meeting opened with a concerned citizen addressing the board.
The citizen who requires the use of a walker, as does his wife, asked why there are not first responders in the city. He explained that he had to call 911 for help when his wife fell. He said an ambulance was dispatched and his wife was helped up and was not taken for treatment. He said he received a bill in the mail from the Stoddard County Ambulance District. It was explained by officials present at the meeting that a bill is sent out if an ambulance needs to be dispatched.
The citizen then said the couple suffered another fall and an ambulance had to be summoned again. He said he received another bill in the mail but this time the bill was a little higher.
Dexter Fire Chief Don Seymore said there were no first responders in the city due to the the Stoddard County Ambulance District office being in the city. He further explained that a first responder is defined as someone with some medical training. EMS was dispatched because they have the medical training to address any potential injury suffered as a result of the fall.
There is a training course offered to become certified as a first responder. The board believed there was a class starting in January with the Staoddard County Ambulance District. Dexter Police Chief Hank Trout said his officers have provided lift assist to the ambulance district several times. However his officers do not possess the medical training to lift a patient with out EMS on site. This is due to the risk of possibly causing further injury to a patient who may have been injured in a fall.
The couple was advised to speak to the ambulance district at its monthly meeting. Seymore said he would speak to Stoddard County Ambulance District director Chuck Kasting about first responders previously trained to see if they are still being used. Seymore further asked Mayor Jason Banken and the board to discuss the first responder issue in an executive session. The did in fact adjourn to an executive session after the conclusion of the open session.
The board then passed three ordinances. The first accepted a bid from
Brown Construction for the construction of a Stormwater Detention Basin. This basin will address the drainage in the city. The bid was for $178,800.
The second ordinance authorized the purchase of a hanger for the airport at the cost of $200,000. Normally the airport board would approve this purchase but the seller is a member of the airport board. The airport board cannot approve the purchase in this case so the Board of Aldermen must approve it. The funds will still come from the airport board.
The third ordinance accepted a bid from C&C Contracting for the installation of UV Disinfection and improvements at the west Waste Water Treatment Plant. These improvements are required by the Environmental Protection Agency. City engineer Rich Concran said five bids were received. The accepted bid is for the amount $969,350. The city has secured funding through grants to help cover this cost.
Dexter Chamber Executive Director Alisha Trammell said she went to a conference with other chamber executives in Southeast Missouri. She each chamber executive was tasked with coming back to their hometown and meeting with representatives of the community and surrounding area to discuss the area’s needs. She said the first meeting was held last week. Discussions will continue in future meetings.
Trammell said she will attend the Governor’s Conference on Tourism on Thursday and Friday this week.
Brewin Business will be October 13 at Gill Group and the annual Christmas Tree Lighting will be November 5 at 5:30 p.m. On October 17 at noon a program will be offered at the chamber office to show how the chamber can help local businesses. Lunch will be served at this meeting.
Mayor Jason Banken asked the board to approve a plumber application for D&S Plumbing. D&S Plumbing has a new owner and therefore must have an application approved. The board approved the application.
A public hearing regarding Replat Fortner’s First Addition has been rescheduled to the November meeting due to an issue with the legal description of the property.