
Citizens in Warren County voted
to approve the formation of the Warren County Ambulance District
on August 6, 1974. 1482 votes were cast for the establishment of
the District and 225 against. The initial tax rate was $0.08 per
$100 assessed valuation.
From February 22, 1975 through December
31, 1975, Douglas E Brown, owner of the Nieburg-Brown Funeral Home
and Furniture Store, Wright City, Missouri, furnished the first
ambulance service to the district.
From January 1, 1976 through December
31, 1976, the Board contracted with the Nieburg-Paul Mortuaries
for ambulance service. A total of 357 ambulance transports were
recorded.
From January 1, 1977 through December
31, 1977, the Board awarded the contract to B & P Transfer Company.
The tax rate for the district was set at $0.08 per $100 assessed
valuation for 1977. On August 18, 1977, the tax rate was increased
from $0.08 to $0.15 per $100 assessed valuation.
From January 1, 1978 through December
31, 1979, Nieburg-Brown provided the ambulance service. Fred Pickens,
President of Warco Emergency Medical Systems, was awarded the ambulance
service contract for the calendar years of 1980 and 1981.
On February 3, 1981, the Warren
County Ambulance District informed the Missouri Department of Health
that the current contractor would not renew the contract for ambulance
service. The Warren County Ambulance District filed a letter on
intent to provide ambulance service. On June 16, 1981, an ambulance
was ordered for the Warren County Ambulance District through the
State Procurement Program at a cost of $11,649.50. The City of Warrenton
constructed a 1,260 square foot building to house two (2) ambulances,
living quarters for two (2) employees and an administrative office
located at 713 Powell Street in Warrenton, MO.
On January 1, 1982, the Warren County
Ambulance District started operations. A new tax rate of $0.27 was
sent for the District, providing about $41,000.00 is tax revenue.
During the first year of the District operating the service, they
responded to a total of 562 calls.
During 1984, the District responded
to 874 calls, a 56% increase from 1983.
In 1985, the District entered into
an agreement to purchase the property at 713 Powell Street for $35,000.00,
payable over 5 years. Due to the Hancock Amendment, the tax rate
for 1985 was rolled back to $0.13 per $100 assessed valuation.
During 1986, a 1,764 square foot
expansion (42' x 42") to the existing building was planned
and put into effect. This expansion would house up to three ambulances
and created two bedrooms, a medical storage area and laundry room.
In 1990 the District purchased two
city lots in Wright City for future expansion in the eastern area
of the district.
In 1991, an expansion to the base
in Warrenton included two additional bedrooms, a bathroom and a
two bay area, totalling 1,200 square foot. The total building is
now 4,224 square foot. The final expansion on the building took
place in 1988. Expanded office area totalling 504 square foot was
added across the front of the building.
In September of 1997, the District
opened Base 2 located at 111 South West Second Street in Wright
City. The District purchased 4.35 acres from the Warrenton Fire
Protection District in 1998 for the future relocation of the District's
Headquarters. Plans for construction continued in the Spring of
1999, with construction on a new 10,000 square foot facility starting
in the Fall of 1999.
On April 9, 2000, the new District
Headquarters was dedicated to the Citizens of the Warren County
Ambulance District. The current tax rate is $0.23 per $100 assessed
valuation. A project of developing a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI)
Trailer was undertaken during 2000 through a generous donation from
a local citizen. The Warren County Ambulance District was privileged
to provide the EMS support for Vice President Al Gore from October
15 to October 17, 2000 during his Presidential Debate preparation
in Innsbrook.
In 200X, the citizens of the Warren
County Ambulance District authorized the Board of Directors to pass
a tax rate of $0.35 per $100 assessed valuation for the purpose
of securing property for a second satellite facility, improve a
salary and benefit package for the employees and upgrade the service
by purchasing new cardiac monitors and laptop computer for patient
care reporting. In 2005, the District purchased new Zoll cardiac
monitors and laptop computers with the ImageTrend field bridge patient
care reporting and the ImageTrend service bridge to transmit the
patient reports directly to the Unit of Emergency Medical Services.
In 2006, the Board of Directors
approved a six year strategic plan, taking into consideration the
rapid growth projected for the area. In November of 2006, the district
completed construction of a second satellite facility located at
26091 South Highway 47 serving the southern portions of the district
south of Interstate 70. During 2006, the District responded to 2,733
calls.
In 2007, the district purchased
a 60KW generator to supply Base One with power in the event of a
power failure. The Warren County Ambulance District worked with
the Region C Homeland Security Oversight Committee in securing an
additional portable generator, an inflatable tent and mobile response
unit. Six other counties in the Region C area obtained similar equipment
that can be within the Region C area in the event of a disaster
or other emergencies.
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