INGALLS — Ingalls has elected to do research before approving payment of an $8,000 bill from Fortville’s Seals Ambulance.
Clerk-Treasurer Kip Golden told the town council at its Oct. 28 meeting that Seals wants payment for 32 charges dating as far back as 2017 by Nov. 1 or risk service suspension.
Golden said the Seals bills came in last week.
Given the large time range and amount of charges, the council did not feel comfortable approving the claims without investigating them.
“We need time to go through them,” Councilman Scot Lawyer suggested to the board.
“It just seems a little odd with the bills dating back two years,” town council president Justin Gardner said. “The council just wanted to make sure that we’re not doubling up on paying invoices that have already been paid.
“I agree with (the council). I just think it’s unusual to have bills from 2017 outstanding if they haven’t been added to incoming invoices. (Kip and a member of our office staff) will be going through all the invoices to make sure we’re not (doubling up on paying).”
Seals handles all Advanced Life Support intercepts on Ingalls emergency calls. The Ingalls department can provide Basic Life Support. Anything advanced — requiring a paramedic — comes out of Seals; if Seals is already responding to another call, Pendleton responds.
BLS provider cannot use needles or other devices that makes cuts in the skin.
“We understand. We don’t want any disruption in the service,” Gardner said. “We have a limited budget, and we can’t afford to double-pay invoices, especially at that measure.”
The council plans to have its research finished for its next meeting, Tuesday Nov. 12. The council will not meet on its usual Monday that week because of Veterans Day being on Monday, Nov. 11.
New chief
For personal reasons, Logan Caulk has stepped down as the town’s fire chief. Caulk resigned his position last month following the birth of a child. He is remaining with the department but relinquishing his office duties.
Former assistant chief Seth Smith is now the Ingalls fire chief.
Thanks to the BZA
The council closed out Monday’s meeting with members recognizing the town’s Board of Zoning Appeals and its 5-0 decision on Oct. 21 to nix Newco Metals appeal for a use variance.
Newco was looking to build a remelting or smelting plant near its State Road 13 location just off Interstate-69.
The meeting usually held at the town hall was moved to Maple Ridge Elementary to house the nearly 400 people in attendance.
BZA president Melanie Johnson was at the council meeting.
“I want to commend the BZA for what they did and the way they handled it,” town council member Tim Green said, noting the group’s professionalism.
“I’d like to publicly commend our police department for stepping up and helping with the flow in and flow out (from the meeting) as well as security during the meeting,” Gardner added.
“They did a great job and I am very proud of that.”
In other council business, the board tabled a storm water complaint filed from resident and former town manager Tim Millikan.
Gardner said town attorney Gregg Morelock will look into an ordinance to see whether the utility board or town board will be the right body to have authority to decide on Millikan’s issue.
“We just want to make sure we don’t take action if we are not legally allowed to take action,” Gardner said, speaking of the town council.
