Cass nominates new EMS director

Oct. 19—The Cass County-run ambulance service that is replacing Phoenix Paramedic Solutions now has a director.

On Monday, Cass County commissioners appointed Mikel Fort to head the new department, on recommendation from the Cass County EMS Board.

That's pending approval by the Cass County Council, which has a special meeting planned Oct. 29.

Fort will be responsible for hiring the new ambulance crews, which the council is also expected to authorize at the special meeting.

Cass County needs an ambulance service in place by mid-December because Phoenix is changing its business model, and the county has agreed to end the contract.

Cass County Commissioners President Ryan Browning, R-District 3, has expressed dissatisfaction with the level of service Phoenix has been providing.

It's been nine years since Cass County ran its own ambulance and emergency medical service. Fort is eager to start work immediately, especially on hiring new employees.

"I'd rather see it sooner than later because we've got to get people trained," Fort said. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us."

The county had eight weeks as of Monday to get the service going, he said.

Although he hasn't officially been hired, Fort has been working on getting things started.

"It's been a pretty busy last couple of weeks," he said.

The county's EMS board members also decided to go with two new Crestline ambulances instead of two used ones from Arrow Ambulances in Rock Rapids, Iowa.

These are basic bodies mounted on a Ford E350 chassis and will cost a total of $232,032 for both.

"For the additional cost, it's better to get brand new," said Fort.

The new ones will have manufacturer warranties, too.

The money for those and the necessary equipment will come from Cass County's American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 grant.

Before the Cass commissioners meeting on Monday, Carroll County officials voted to donate a used ambulance to Cass.

"The price is right," said Cass County Commissioner Mike Stajduhar, R-District 2.

The EMS board was originally considering buying Carroll's extra 2014 Osage conversion as a Basic Life Support ambulance for non-life threatening situations, and it would be staffed by two people, either EMTs, advanced EMTs or a combination of the two.

Fort said the two new ambulances would likely be used as Advanced Life Support vehicles.

They'll likely get more use and mileage, he said.

Besides training the new employees, Fort wants to build better relationships with Logansport Memorial Hospital and local fire stations.

That includes providing continuing education.

Fort has been in the EMS business for about 14 years, working as administrator to advance EMT, he said. He's currently in paramedic school. Originally from Kewanna, he's worked with the Pulaski County EMS since 2009.

He and his family have lived on the east side of Logansport for about four years. That's a reason he wanted to be director of the county's EMS service.

"It's my own county," he said. "I want to give back what the county deserves."

Reach James D. Wolf Jr. at james.wolf@pharostribune.com or 574-732-5117

Twitter @JamesDWolfJr