Establishing an open line

Seeking to address recent complaints and rumors about ambulance service in Sweetwater County, the Castle Rock Hospital District Board of Trustees and Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners hosted a joint special meeting last week. 

The meeting was set up by the commissioners out of a desire to establish more open lines of communication with the Castle Rock board, according to Commission Chairman Keaton West. West noted that the commissioners have received complaints from former and current Castle Rock staff members who didn't feel comfortable going to administration, which "puts the commission in a little bit of a tough spot." He admitted that the Castle Rock board is and should be in charge of operations, but said that "as your paying customer we have a very vested interest" in concerns. 

Castle Rock CEO Bailie Dockter, CFO Todd Toolson, and Ambulance Director Kim White were present with the board to speak during the meeting. The meeting was also attended by nearly a dozen citizens. 

During a public comment time at the beginning of the meeting, Rock Springs City Council Member Tim Robinson asked about rumors that there would not be an ambulance on standby during the upcoming National High School Finals Rodeo. Dockter explained that she has been working with Kandi Pendleton at Sweetwater Events Complex to determine the needs for the rodeo. Since there are some events that require four to five ambulances to be present, Dockter explained that Castle Rock will be helping to provide ambulances but may not be able to provide full coverage at all times. Because of this, Castle Rock is working with other groups like the Rock Springs Fire Department to collaborate and make sure the event will be fully covered.

As the boards started the joint meeting, the question of how to address concerns about the ambulance was a predominant topic. 

When it comes to complaints, Stanton said that "as far as employees go, they have a chain of command" to go through, as well as procedures and policies for addressing concerns, which he said does not include going to the county commissioners. 

Commissioner Robb Slaughter noted that he has still been receiving a lot of calls and complaints and he wants to make sure are addressed. 

"I look at these two agencies as being cooperative agencies, and because we are funding you I believe we are partners in this," Slaughter said. 

He added that he has often directed people to go through the Castle Rock Administration or the Board, but pointed out that one of the biggest concerns raised by staff members was the fear of retribution for going forward. 

"I don't know why people fear retribution if they haven't pursued the chain of command through the policy manual to air their grievances," Castle Rock Board Member Bob Gordon said, expressing the belief that the policies are in place to allow employees to express concerns and be protected. 

Both Gordon and Castle Rock Vice Chairperson Sandee Gunter also expressed their opinion that ambulance service has always been a difficult topic and is a difficult service to manage. 

"This is a hot potato that nobody wants," Gordon said. "I know what a contentious thing it can be." 

"When we were approached to take over the ambulance, most of us were not in agreement," Gunter said. "We knew that it was going to be a nightmare."

Gunter noted that the board members who were reluctant were ultimately persuaded that taking over ambulance service for the county would be feasible, and she added that now are committed and want to see it succeed. She also expressed the opinion that people may be going to the commissioners with complaints because they are new in the hopes of getting different answers.

Gordon also said that he believes people will respond with more complaints if they are given an ear rather than being referred to where they need to go. 

"I'm not interested in being micromanaged or second guessed from the outside," Gordon said. 

Slaughter pointed out that even though the commissioners are new to their positions, they have a lot of experience. He also said that there is a perception that the county commissioner can solve all problems, which is why they are approached with concerns, but they want to take those concerns seriously. 

"The goal is to not come in here and have a screaming match," West said, adding that both boards have more important things to do. However, he said that because the commissioners are responsible for $1.8 million of taxpayer money that go toward ambulance service, they wanted to be able to ask questions, get more information, and establish a closer relationship to be able to work together.

Both boards spent the rest of the meeting going through details of the ambulance service together, addressing topics including call reports, call times, staffing levels and certifications, and financial reports. The commissioners requested for more specific details to be included in the ambulance service's quarterly reports to the commissioners. Another recommendation from the commissioners was encouragement for Castle Rock to establish more relationships with other local entities like fire departments to be able to work together to provide service. 

At the end of the meeting, the commissioners expressed appreciation for being able to talk in more detail and to learn more from Castle Rock. Commissioner Taylor Jones noted that the commission had no interest in nitpicking or micromanaging the Castle Rock board, they just wanted to answer some questions, but the intent was not accusatory. 

"I would ask you all to let your guards down a little more," Jones added. 

"I heard comments that this was going to be a bloodbath," Slaughter said, but he echoed the sentiment that the intent was never to rip the Castle Rock board apart, and he said that sort of perception is what the commissioners wanted to get away from so they could establish a productive relationship. 

Stanton and Gordon both noted that working with previous commissions had been difficult, which was part of why they felt apprehensive. They added that they should give the new commissioners the benefit of the doubt and they wanted the relationship to be more positive.

"At the end of the day, politics aside, everyone wants a successfully run ambulance service," West said.