Seems the Minnehaha County Commission is taking some moves from Councilor Erpenbach, bitching and complaining about an agenda item that is not working, costing us to much or both, then voting for it anyway. While they all admitted that Dr. Luther isn’t really doing anything for the $30K a year he has received over the past decade, they let him have it again;
All five members of the County Commission raised or acknowledge questions about Luther’s responsibilities at a 2017 budget hearing Wednesday, but Barth was the only member who voted to eliminate the position.
The commission moved instead to extend Luther’s contract one more year as the county pursues a broader study of how rural ambulance services are assigned and regulated.
And let’s talk about duplicity, the city pays over $100K a year for the same service. Why are the taxpayers paying for a service that a private ambulance company is making a profit from? Shouldn’t they be paying fees that supplement his inspection and quality assurance?
Either way, this further proves why we have such a fiasco with our city provided ambulance, why does the city continue to fund this joke of quality assurance;
“It’s our fault we didn’t get more of that money,†Barth said. “It’s our fault we didn’t demand more, it’s our fault that we continue to pay him for this fruitless endeavor.â€
And the ignorance continues.
There’s the right way and the Erpenback way. Let’s keep that name downplayed. She may run for mayor. If she gets her name out there, voters will pick her because they heard the name. We don’t need another Huether. Never pick the horse because your girlfriend thinks the name is cute.
Why was this issue raised, if they are still looking for the problem?
This is like a new inverted version of….”I was for the war before I was against it”…..:-(
The county is one step ahead of the City: They admitted they are paying a guy who does nothing.
The City will will continue to pay Jeff to miss meetings, not make decisions, and actually have REMSA Julie review all the calls.
But the City has a lot of useless figureheads, what’s the big deal about having one more contracted one?
dr luther’s family is also on the city payroll.
Yes, ‘I think’ his son is on the Fire department and his daughter in law is a manager with the Parks Department.
I think we should all step back and wait for the rest of the story to come to light. I’ve done business with Jeff Luther and have never had any issues nor have I heard of anything like this at all. The very last people that should be pointing fingers are any ember of the county commission. Jeff Barth is an opportunist who has only shown ambition when it personally benefits him or promotes himself. Dick Kelly needs to go. He is nothing but a career politician who leeches off whatever government he can, city or county. Kelly was never successful in private business so he turned to governing to make ends meet. We should be smarter than to put these two guys back in office.
Golly Gee, why is everyone so mad at me?
The doctor finally speaks;
http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2016/09/19/county-ambulance-regulator-baffled-criticism/90705390/
Thomas, I agree there is two sides to each story, but I watched the last county meeting where Luther finally gave his report, it was a joke, a 2 year old could have given a better and more complete report. Also with all the problems with Paramedics Plus, makes you wonder just what Mr. Luther does. If he really does all the things he claims, then produce the paper work and proof. When he had the opportunity to do that, it was incomplete. Just sayin’
What can be eliminated from overhead? What saves budget? Simple questions. There are many posts that are cheaper using private contractors. It seems this position is fees without performance. When there’s need, it’s contracted anyway. A regional economic downturn is coming. This waste has come under scrutiny. First cuts will be undefined unproductive cost. This is one.
Isn’t this Dick Kelly’s last term? I thought he lost out to his opponents in the June primary.
Luther’s defense is he approved a policy for Narcan that somebody else wrote?
Furthermore he’s been getting paid since 2002 and he’s submitted reports since 2010?
Wow, that’s an extensive list of accomplishments for 14 years of work. He was probably better off keeping his mouth shut if that’s the best he can do.
I’d like to hear his completion list of items for the City. For 3x the pay is it 3x as long? *eyes rolling*
Luther needs to go. Get off the government teat.