Monona Fire and EMS leaders reported to the Public Safety Committee on July 23 that call volume has increased, a sprinkler system limited damage in a recent Broadway fire, and the department expects new federal GEMT reimbursements that will add revenue to the EMS fund.
Fire Chief Jerry told the committee that festival call volume was low relative to crowd size but overall monthly calls were up roughly 30 calls compared with last year. He said a kitchen/stove incident on Broadway triggered a single sprinkler that limited damage; Chief Jerry estimated total damage to the business at about $130,000 and said most damage was water rather than smoke or structural loss.
On EMS finance, the chief said the state‑administered federal GEMT (Ground Emergency Medical Transportation) process had been reactivated this year. “Should garner about 40,000 ish dollars in, unforeseen revenue,” he said, noting the department submitted 2023 cost data last month and expected 2024 figures to be submitted this week. The chief said the program’s federal rules limit reimbursable transports and that the department expects to receive a retroactive payment for 2023 plus ongoing annual payments in the $20,000–$25,000 range going forward.
Chief Jerry also said updated cost accounting shows it costs roughly $1,000 to dispatch a medic unit per call; Medicaid‑type reimbursement rules and state modifiers reduce the collectible share to approximately 34% of submitted costs under current program rules. The department expects GEMT funding to flow into the EMS fund when processed by state administrators, with an anticipated timeline into September.
Operations and equipment updates included that Medic 64 is physically ready for service and awaiting license plates and registration; the department expected the unit to be in service the week after the meeting. The department described ongoing training activities, participation in an EMS leadership conference, and an electric squad/Blazer vehicle that is being outfitted and showcased at a chiefs’ conference.
Other items discussed in the reports portion included traffic enforcement strategies (using visible squad cars to encourage voluntary compliance), recruitment of part‑time officers to fill staffing gaps, and upcoming community events including Natural Night Out on Aug. 12.
Committee members asked questions and received clarifications about claim limits under GEMT, the condition and mileage of new equipment, and volunteer staffing levels. No formal committee action was taken on the reports portion beyond receiving the updates.