To assist voters to make informed choices in the June 2 municipal election (rescheduled from April) and to accommodate those who wish to cast absentee ballots, the Leader will present its Voters Guide on its website. Each day, a new contested race or ballot issue will be posted at myleaderpaper.com.
Absentee voting for the June 2 election is open now. Absentee voters can cast their ballots at the Jefferson County Administration Center, 729 Maple St., Hillsboro, or by mail. The deadline to request a mail-in absentee ballot is May 20. To request a mail-in ballot or for other information concerning the election, call the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office at 636-797-5486.
Today, we focus on candidates for the Rock Township Ambulance District's Board of Directors. Tomorrow, profiles of candidates for the Antonia Fire Protection District's board.
The field is wide open in the campaign in the June 2 election for two seats on the Rock Township Ambulance District’s Board of Directors.
Neither of the incumbents, Cathy Wooldridge and Alicia Ott, are seeking new three-year terms, so two new board members will definitely be sworn in after the election.
Both Wooldridge and Ott bow out after one term, although Wooldridge was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board in late 2016 before she was elected in April 2017.
Lining up to succeed them are four candidates: Lindsay Fry Sleet, Dean C. Meenach, Jeremy Day and Avery A. Fortenberry.
Members of the board are not paid.
The district covers 108 square miles in northeast Jefferson County.
SLEET, 35, lives at 683 Walnut Ridge in Fenton. She and her husband, Matt, have two children. She is a license and title supervisor for Enterprise Fleet Management.
MEENACH, 50, lives at 977 Konert Lake Drive in Fenton. He and his wife, Heather, have three children. He is an advanced nurse clinician and educator in the Emergency Department at Mercy Hospital South.
He earned a master’s degree in nursing in 2016 from Central Methodist University, a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2010 from Chamberlain College and associate degrees from Excelsior College (in nursing) and St. Louis Community College (in paramedic technology).
Meenach formerly worked as a paramedic and education coordinator for the district. He said he left on positive terms to pursue other career ambitions.
DAY, 33, lives at 3864 Country Club Drive in Imperial. He and his wife, Julie, have two children. He has been a service technician for 20 years, the last 13 with GE Appliances.
He is a 1996 graduate of Eureka High School.
FORTENBERRY, 73, lives at 6604 Crimson Lane in Barnhart. He and his wife, Jann, have four children and six grandchildren. He retired as a global sales executive manager for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. and taught computer and telephone technology at St. Louis Community College. He now works part time for Lowe’s and managed 16 home builds for Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity.
While serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Faulkenberry earned a general-equivalency diploma and took several college courses. After his discharge, he took classes at St. Louis Community College earned a bachelor’s degree in business management with a minor in communication from Maryville University.
What experience do you have that might serve you well in this position?
Sleet: Did not respond to question.
Meenach: I volunteered as a Scout leader and Scout committee member for all three of my sons’ experiences in Cub and Boy Scouts. I have served on several educational advisory boards at St. Louis Community College and Mineral Area College. I am a member of the Missouri EMS Advisory Committee, Education Sub-committee and on the local chapter of the Emergency Nurses Association. I serve as an editorial advisor for EMS Connection Magazine and as a columnist for the EMS1.com online journal.
Day: I am president of the Jefferson County Pachyderm Club. I ran for Jefferson County Clerk in 2014 and 2018, am sergeant of arms for the Festus American Legion and member of the Big River Friends of the NRA Committee and the blue-ribbon committee for a new jail and courthouse.
Fortenberry: I am on the boards of Public Water District C-1, the Jefferson County Rescue Mission and the Jefferson County Board of Zoning Adjustment, subdivision boards and the Jefferson County Republication Club. I am a past member of the Festus Special Road District board, the county Planning Commission, Judevine Center for Autism, Ride on St. Louis (an equestrian therapy organization) and Habitat for Humanity.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?
Sleet: I would like to move the district forward in a positive direction to best serve our community.
Meenach: Some of the most important challenges are:
■ Funding and reimbursement in a climate of rapidly changing healthcare policy.
■ Increasing call volumes.
■ Sustaining a commitment to disaster and public health preparedness.
Funding and reimbursement can be improved with budget prioritizing, innovative supply and equipment scheduling, supporting reimbursement legislation, grants and resource collaboration. I support analyzing residential growth projections, service trending and run data to maintain response times and resources based on need.
Disaster policies, training, and equipment should be reviewed to prepare dispatch, providers and the community for disasters and disease outbreaks.
Day: The biggest problem is the logistical challenge for ambulance service to reach customers. Some of the older ambulance houses are in locations that can’t serve residents in a timely matter. House No. 1 is too far away from the center of the Arnold population. House No. 2 is too far away from the center on the Imperial population. The board has already taken some steps to help this issue.
Fortenberry: ■ Staffing: Most of the staffers are working overtime. This needs to be reviewed and better managed.
■ Calls: The district needs to have capable staff trained and available at all times.
■ Current medications: Of utmost importance is the correct and up-to-date medication for our clients. I will make sure that all of these are correct and current.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Sleet: I am a first responder wife and a resident of the district. I know how important it is to:
■ Support the community with the best tools and people.
■ Ensure that the professionals have the most up-to-date lifesaving equipment.
■ Recruit and retain full-time and part-time personnel.
■ Work with the administration to help place facilities to reach the greatest number of residents and get them to definitive care in the shortest amount of time.
Meenach: I am an experienced paramedic, nurse, educator, national speaker, researcher and author who understands the real challenges our frontline providers face every day as they serve the community. I understand the real and complex issues that affect our district. The district faces challenges that potentially affect funding, patient and coworker safety, quality of care and care innovation, response times, healthcare delivery and the ability to respond and adapt to rapid changes in need. I will apply my experience, knowledge and critical thinking toward fulfilling the district’s mission while remaining financially accountable.
Day: I would work with the administration and board to find solutions to move crews to better locations without a need for tax increases. Having a vote on a board that spends the residents’ money is a very powerful thing and it’s not something to be taken lightly. With the multiple organizations I have worked with, I’m the person for the job and will safeguard the district well.
Fortenberry: If you want high-quality ambulance service in a timely fashion, then vote for me. This is what your tax dollars should support. I will demand answers to tough questions. You should get a dollar’s worth of service for every tax dollar spent.