EMS faces surge in call volume, alarming increase in 'status zero' events

Community Paramedicine program reports early successes in reducing hospital visits

Health department preps for school safety inspections and mobile flu clinics

Commission approves $27,262 in materials for collapsed bridge repair

Public input sought for 'Safe Streets and Roads for All' road safety initiative

County introduces one-page budget summary for taxpayers

Redesigned property tax statements to debut this year

EMS faces surge in call volume, alarming increase in 'status zero' events

ABILENE, Kan. — Emergency Medical Services in the county are experiencing a significant increase in call volumes, leading to a rise in dangerous "status zero" instances where no ambulances are available to respond to emergencies. Emergency Medical Services Director John Hultgren reported a 17 percent increase in 911 calls over the past three years and a 35 percent increase in transfers, which he largely attributed to the recent closure of the Herington hospital. Hultgren noted nearly 60 instances of status zero this year, prompting commissioners to request a cost analysis for potentially adding another full-time EMS crew or reassigning captains to active truck duty to mitigate the risk to public safety.

Community Paramedicine program reports early successes in reducing hospital visits

ABILENE, Kan. — A newly implemented Community Paramedicine program is already making strides in preventing repeat hospitalizations among at-risk residents. Emergency Medical Services Director John Hultgren reported that the initiative has served 32 unique patients through 280 encounters, utilizing off-duty EMS personnel to provide preventative, in-home medical checks. The program's early success has drawn regional attention, with EMS officials scheduled to present their findings to medical providers in neighboring communities and at upcoming state medical conferences.

Health department preps for school safety inspections and mobile flu clinics

ABILENE, Kan. — The Dickinson County Health Department is gearing up for its busy fall season, beginning with mandatory safety inspections at all public school buildings across the area. Following the inspections, the department will launch its mobile flu shot clinics on Oct. 8, utilizing a repurposed ambulance to provide convenient, drive-through and walk-up vaccinations at local schools.

Commission approves $27,262 in materials for collapsed bridge repair

ABILENE, Kan. — The Dickinson County Commission unanimously approved the purchase of $27,262.34 in decking, sheeting and structural steel to repair a bridge that collapsed earlier this week on 500 Avenue near Carlton. County road crews have already begun deconstruction at the site to clear the collapsed structure. The new materials, sourced from two vendors, are expected to be delivered by late October, at which point crews will complete the reconstruction.

Public input sought for 'Safe Streets and Roads for All' road safety initiative

ABILENE, Kan. — The county has launched an interactive survey and mapping tool as part of its "Safe Streets and Roads for All" program, inviting residents to pinpoint intersections and roadways needing safety improvements. The survey, which focuses exclusively on infrastructure outside city limits, is available on the county government website at dkcoks.gov and will remain open until December. Officials plan to distribute promotional flyers to local school districts and host a booth at Heritage Day at the Dickinson County Heritage Center on Oct. 3 to encourage public participation before a safety committee reviews the compiled data.

County introduces one-page budget summary for taxpayers

ABILENE, Kan. — In an effort to make local government finances more transparent, Assistant County Administrator and Finance Director Hannah Bett introduced a newly designed, one-page budget summary for the 2025 fiscal year. The visually driven document highlights key financial metrics, including a historic 10-year look at the declining mill levy and a breakdown of the budget's practical impact on residents. The summary illustrates that the owner of a $250,000 home will see a net decrease of $155 in their property taxes next year, providing taxpayers with a clear, concise explanation of the county's financial direction without requiring them to read a lengthy report.

Redesigned property tax statements to debut this year

ABILENE, Kan. — Property owners will notice a different look when they receive their tax statements this year, thanks to a redesign aimed at improving readability and organization. The new statements feature a cleaner layout, color-coded borders that will change annually to help taxpayers easily organize multi-year records, and fully perforated stubs at the bottom of the page. Dickinson County Treasurer Leah Hern praised the update for eliminating the confusion caused by the previous statement's awkward layout and split-stub design.

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