Boyceville Ambulance has big loss, Fire Department gets better rating

BOYCEVILLE — Members of the Municipal Boards that control the Boyceville Fire Department and Ambulance Service were greeted with some good news and some bad news last Wednesday, June 15th, at their regular monthly meeting.

First, a report from fire Chief Brian Marlette indicated that the department had an improved rating from the ISO. But they also learned that the ambulance service posted a financial loss in 2015.

During the meeting, the group heard a report about the finances of both the fire and ambulance services from Jonathan Sherwood, CPA, of Clifton Larson Allen. In his report Sherwood noted that the Ambulance Service posted a loss of some $68,239 for the year ending on December 31, 2015. Included in those figures were a $136,910 charged to Capital Outlay for the finishing of the new facility on Race Street. He informed the board that the new ambulance facility cost a total of $313,004. His report showed that the service spent over $188,000 on wages and fringes.

Sherwood noted about the financial statement that with the extra expense for the new facility and with collections down from the previous year, the service had a negative bank balance at the end of the year. He said the account was overdrawn for three days until a line of credit covered the overdraft.

His report for the Boyceville Fire Department was very much different than that of the Ambulance. Sherwood noted that revenues were down, but the expenses were also down. The report indicated that income was some $36,126 over expenses for last year. Another report showed the department had some $255,885.74 funds on hand as of June 15, 2016.

During his report to the board, Fire Chief Brian Marlette informed the meeting that the fire department had received a new rating from the ISO (Insurance Service Office). According to Marlette, the ISO was in the village earlier this year to inspect the fire department, water utility, and department records. Included with the letter received by Village President Gib Krueger, the fire department received an upgrade on their fire rating. The ISO rates fire departments on a ten to one scale with one being the best rating a department can get.

Boyceville had a five rating for the village and a nine for the rural areas. The new rating has improved to a four for both the village and rural areas. This should have the effect of lowering fire insurance rates for property in the service area of the fire department.

The meeting approved allowing the fire chief to purchase a new gas meter that reads four types of gas at a cost of $3,600. Marlette reported the old one did not work properly and could not be repaired.