November 21, 2023 |
Photo – SCWEMS ambulance barn – Bigfoot99 file photo
The town of Medicine Bow has questioned some of the proposed changes to its SCWEMS agreement.
South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services was formed in 2009 using money and equipment provided by the municipalities of Carbon County. However, the agreement between SCWEMS and the towns didn’t specify how the assets would be redistributed should the medical transport service cease to exist for any reason. The SCWEMS board has been working to update its nearly 15-year-old contract to include language that clearly defines the resources towns will recoup.
SCWEMS is paid a specific amount of money based on population by the county and every participating town. In the updated agreement, if SCWEMS dissolves, the towns will receive money equal to their financial contributions for that fiscal year.
SCWEMS representatives have attended town council meetings across the county to explain the changes to the agreement and ask for input. The new contract must be approved by every participating member before it is adopted.
During the November 13th Medicine Bow town council meeting, Town Attorney Cameron Smith said he has concerns about the new SCWEMS agreement. Attorney Smith said to end SCWEMS membership, a town needs permission from the other constituents. Smith said simply choosing not to contribute to SCWEMS would be a simpler way out of the membership-based organization.
Attorney Smith said petitioning the other members would be more costly than defaulting on the annual SCWEMS payments. Smith said he is working with SCWEMS attorney Cathy MacPherson to add a provision to allow a town to opt out of SCWEMS membership with advanced notice.
Smith said his other concern with the new SCWEMS agreement is related to the medical transport service’s assets. The town attorney explained that money will be redistributed among the members based on their yearly contributions.
Attorney Smith said the way the new agreement handles the redistribution of assets is unusual. Smith said members are generally refunded based on their lifetime contribution to an organization.
Smith said that aspect of the contract is unlikely to change. Smith said SCWEMS attorney MacPherson informed him that the records of past member contributions no longer exist.
A Medicine Bow resident asked Attorney Smith what happened to the SCWEMS formation records. Smith said SCWEMS attorney MacPherson didn’t tell him.
Attorney Smith said the path for a town to leave SCWEMS will be changed before the agreement is finalized. Smith told the Medicine Bow town council that they need to decide if they can accept the way finances are handled if SCWEMS dissolves.
The council did not take any action during the November 13th meeting. Attorney Smith said he will present the council members with the altered agreement when he receives it.
