Fitch-Rona EMS District Annual Meeting – October 16, 2025

This joint annual meeting of the Fitch-Rona EMS District brought together elected officials and staff from the City of Fitchburg, City of Verona, and Town of Verona. The primary agenda included the approval of previous meeting minutes, recognition of employee service milestones, a comprehensive chief's report on operations and finances, and presentations from deputy chiefs on fall prevention and training. District Chief Patrick Anderson presented the 2026 budget, capital improvement plans, and a discussion on future staffing needs.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the October 2024 meeting were approved with a minor correction (spelling of former Verona Alder Brandon Braithweight's name). Motion carried by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the public comment period.

Discussion Items

• Chief's Report (Patrick Anderson): Provided an overview of the district's operations, including a response time analysis showing a median time of less than five minutes from notification to arrival, meeting NFPA standards. The district serves a population of 55,172 across 71 square miles, with three ambulances 24/7. Call volume is up 8.3% year-over-year, projected to reach 5,600 calls in 2025. Mutual aid requests (when all three district ambulances are out) have reached 44 times year-to-date, already nearly matching last year's total of 45. The chief outlined a phased plan to add a peak-time ambulance in 2026 (two days per week), then expand to five to seven days per week by 2028, with a potential fourth full-time ambulance by 2030.
• Fall Prevention Program (Deputy Chief Jeff Dosdall): Described ongoing community outreach with 14 presentations reaching over 120 participants. Falls account for approximately 20% of district calls; the program aims to reduce repeat falls through referrals to senior centers.
• Training Update (Deputy Chief Luke Anders): Reported completion of 168 hours of on-duty EMS training and 140 hours of fire training year-to-date, including new equipment such as video laryngoscopes and an inflatable shelter for rehab operations.
• Budget and Financial Review: Chief Anderson presented the proposed 2026 operating budget of $4.5 million, with $2.125 million in estimated run revenue (average collection of $418 per call) and $2.2 million to be covered by municipal contributions. The new intergovernmental agreement (based on one-third per capita, one-third call volume, one-third equalized value) shifts the share: Fitchburg 63% ($1.4 million), Verona 32% ($732,000), Town of Verona 5% ($93,000)—resulting in a 4.69% overall increase. The district's unassigned fund balance of 40% (above the required 15–25%) will be used to increase the reserve to 35% and contribute $180,000 to the post-retirement healthcare account.
• Capital Improvement Plans: A new ambulance is on order for 2027 at a cost of $339,000, plus approximately $165,000 for durable and disposable equipment. Two support SUVs are included in the fleet replacement cycle.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the October 2024 meeting minutes with a spelling correction.
• Recognized employees for service milestones: Greg Bailey (15 years), Jamie Ennis, Chip Hankley, Hayden Latch, and Ryan Robertson (5 years).
• The commission received the chief's report, deputy chief presentations, and the 2026 budget overview. No formal vote on the budget was taken at this meeting.
• The meeting adjourned by motion and voice vote.