South Lincoln EMS Association seeks clarity after filings lapse; hospital district says funds remain accessible

Representatives of the South Lincoln EMS Association told the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on March 21 that the association’s filings with the Secretary of State and its 501(c)(3) status had lapsed and that they are working with a certified public accountant to correct the records. Jessie Kramer, president of the association, said the lapse prompted the hospital to question who legally controls funds.

Scott Erickson, chief operating officer of the South Lincoln Hospital District, told commissioners that when auditors learned of the association’s noncompliance the district had to take steps to secure funds; he said the funds remain accessible to the EMS but that the district has legal obligations for funds executed by its employees. Scott Meyers, EMS supervisor, and Sheron Cox, director of nursing, clarified the EMS functions as a department of the hospital while the Association is a separate entity; several association officers said county funds were intended for use by EMS services and not for the hospital’s gain.

Melanie Luthi, president of the Cokeville EMS Association, said she had been asked to turn over debit cards and a checkbook to the hospital district and expressed concern that county-budgeted funds she had planned to set aside for property purchases for the association were not accessible. Shauna Ridgeway, vice president of the South Lincoln EMS Association, asked for explicit confirmation that county checks made out for EMS are for EMS services and not for hospital control. Chairman Hansen and Commissioner Connelly said the minutes reflect county checks are payable to the South Lincoln EMS Association, not the hospital district, and recommended the groups consult legal counsel to resolve the internal compliance and access questions.

No formal county action changing funding flows was taken at the meeting; commissioners noted the need for clarification and legal counsel review.