Voters in the Rock Township Ambulance District will have plenty of options when it comes to choosing members of the Board of Directors in the April 5 election.
Two of the board’s six seats are up for election, and both incumbents – Charles Groeteke and Frank A. Kutilek – are running for new three-year terms. Both are seeking their second consecutive terms, although Kutilek was on the district’s original board in 1980 and was its chairman for 10 years.
They are challenged by four others – Christy Gay, Lynne Ruzicka, Paul D. Horn (who served two prior terms on the board) and Avery Fortenberry.
Fortenberry did not return a Leader candidate questionnaire.
The district covers 108 square miles in northeast Jefferson County.
Board members are not paid.
KUTILEK, 74, lives at 31 Anthony Court, Arnold. He and his wife, Betty, have two sons and two grandchildren. He was a construction and conceptual estimator who attended several years of college. He is on the Arnold Planning Commission and has been a member of the Water District No. 1 board, the Jefferson County Economic Development Corp., has been a volunteer fireman with the Rock Community Fire Protection District, has held membership in various construction industry associations and committees. He worked on the petition drive to form the district in 1980 and has volunteered to serve on various committees and boards for the district.
GROETEKE, 61, lives at 7302 Hidden Bluffs Drive, Barnhart. He and his wife, Sharon Lynn, have a daughter. He is a chief maintenance machinist for Marquette Tool and Die Co. He is a SouthwestHigh School graduate and who attended JeffersonCollege. He served as the District 4 representative on the Jefferson County Council for two years. He is the recording secretary and past trustee and president for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Lodge 688, is president of the Jefferson County Pachyderm Club and past president of the St. Louis Karting Association.
GAY, 41, lives at 1042 Canterbury Circle, Imperial. She is a representative for the NationalCemetery at Jefferson Barracks. She is retired after serving 20 years in the U.S. Navy and has an associates degree from CentralTexasCollege.
RUZICKA, 52, lives at 3550 Pine Haven Lane, Imperial. She and her husband, Tom, have four children and two grandchildren.
HORN, 60, lists his address as P.O. Box 203, Arnold. He and his wife, Teresa, have two children and four grandchildren. He is an emergency medical technician and is a retired custodian from the Fox C-6 School District. He is a former member of the St. Francois County Ambulance District board who also served on RockTownship’s board from 1995 to 2001.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?Kutilek: Passing the district’s first tax increase in 30 years. We have nine ambulances, seven of which have more than 100,000 miles on them. We need to establish a systematic method for replacement. The following issues need to be addressed:
1. Hiring a part-time accountant. The district has an annual audit, but no accountant. This should cost no more than $1,000 per month and would be money well spent.
2. Hire an investment advisor. This should pay for itself. We currently are receiving minimal interest when other governmental organizations are doing significantly better.
3. Complete a master plan. This would allow future boards to have a plan for the future. It should be updated on a regular basis.
Groeteke: Finding ways to increase the revenue stream so the district can continue to provide the service that residents desire. I have been working with the current directors and staff to look at all avenues to stabilize the need for increased funding.
Gay: Finance and budgeting. The district has recently increased its user fees and is going for a tax increase. This indicates that either the district has experienced a change in financial challenges or its funding is not being used efficiently. The same board has been in charge of the budget for a number of years. Fresh eyes and minds are required to examine the district’s fiscal leadership.
Ruzicka: I am not aware of which problems facing the district have been named “the biggest” but I have heard there are issues that need to be addressed. I would hope through communication and action the board members, district staff and administration would work diligently to solve the problems the district may have.
Horn: The escalating calls and our aging society need major attention. The district will need to add more paramedic staff and probably another ambulance station to better serve the increasing workload. Call volume is currently at 8,000 calls a year and is wearing the current staff down. The Affordable Care Act has added more burdens to health care and it impacts the operations of the district.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Kutilek: I have dedicated a great deal of my life and time to the district and am passionate about seeing it remain the best in the state. I have been active with the district for more than 36 years, and would like to continue to help the district and community for many more years now that I am retired. I would like to see the hiring of a part-time accountant, hiring an investment advisor and implementing a master plan.
Groeteke: My ability to apply conservative thoughts into constructive action for the residents of the district, along with my dedication to the job that I have been entrusted with, shows my dedication to this job. During my first term I have missed no voting meetings of the board and have attended many county functions.
Gay: A few of my goals would be to focus on quicker response time and updated quality equipment, a solid base for employment retention, career progression and training. I am eager to work as a team on the district’s budget and finances.
Ruzicka: The district provides our community with services residents count on and trust to be professional, efficient and caring. I have no personal or political agenda. I would like to assist the district to a point of complete transparency between the board, crews, the administration and the community. I would like a unified ambulance district that operates within a clearly defined budget that supports modern, reliable equipment and competitive salaries and benefits for employees while being fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars.
Horn: Prior experience on the board, which I will share with other board members and administration. I have served on the board in the past and now have the time to offer my talents to the district again. I have always been community oriented and want to help people. I vow to balance budgets and to focus on expanding the paramedic staff and ensure timely emergency response call times.
What is your opinion on Lifesaver, the district's tax increase proposal on the April 5 ballot?
Kutilek: I know that this is necessary; we have many needs that need to be addressed. In 1980 when the district was formed, we had a little over three calls a day and the population was 59,000, now we have about one call an hour and an aging population that has grown to 175,000. Advanced lifesaving equipment and procedures require major expense as well as advanced training. The administration, staff and boards over the last 30 years have done an exemplary job of managing revenue, since this is the first time in 30 years the district has needed a tax increase.
Groeteke: Lifesaver is needed to continue the first-class service that the district provides the taxpayers. The district has not asked the taxpayers for a tax increase in 30 years and has spent our tax dollars well. Future budgets and expenditures are going to increase due to our ever-increasing population, calls responded to and increased equipment expenses. More funding will be needed if the residents desire to maintain the quality service that the district provides.
Gay: Without knowing the details of the district’s finances, I have no way of knowing if the tax is needed. If the tax increase is passed, I will make sure your tax dollars are used appropriately. If the tax increase does not pass, I will use this same level of dedication to make sure the district is able to progress with the current budget.
Ruzicka: It is my understanding that the district has not had an increase in this tax revenue in 30 years. It is asking for an increase of 23 cents, which would bring the revenue to 47 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. This is a tax increase I completely support.
Horn: Lifesavers is a request to voters to increase the tax base. It has been 30 years since the tax rate changed and is quite a credit to all the employees and directors managing within its means for many years. Since the crash of 2008, revenues have decreased and the number of calls have increased. The district cannot maintain operating with revenue not keeping up with the costs. We need to ensure good morale among the staff. In addition, the district’s aging fleet needs to be replaced to be reliable.