Three people are in the hunt for two seats available on the Rock Township Ambulance District’s Board of Directors in the April 2 election.
Mark Paul, who was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2016 and then elected to a full term in 2018, is seeking his third full term and Tara Mueller is seeking her second.
Paul D. Horn, who served two previous three-year terms on the board from 1995 to 2001 and then was elected again in 2018 but was defeated in 2021, is seeking to return to the board.
Members of the board are not paid.
The district covers 108 square miles in northeast Jefferson County.
Mark Paul
PAUL, 44, lives in Imperial. He is the general manager of operations of Chauvin Coffee Co. He and his wife, Michelle, have two children. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Missouri Baptist University in 2003.
Tara Mueller
MUELLER, 49, lives in Imperial. She is the special education coordinator for the Special School District of St. Louis County. She and her husband, Tony, have three children. A graduate of Windsor High School, she has an associate degree in teaching from Jefferson College, a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, and master’s degrees in educational administration and teaching from Missouri Baptist University.
Her fourth cousin through marriage works for the district.
Paul D. Horn
HORN, 68, lives in Arnold. He is a retired custodian from the Fox C-6 School District. He and his wife, Teresa, have two grandchildren and five grandchildren. He took nursing classes through Mineral Area College and received an emergency medical technician certificate from University of Missouri in Columbia.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Paul: I have served on the board of Directors since 2016 and have been secretary, vice chairman and chairman of the board during my tenure. I also currently serve on the Jefferson County Sheriffs Merit Commission, also since 2016.
Mueller: I served as a board member for the past three years and have been secretary for the past year. I serve on the board for Decoding Dyslexia Missouri. I also served as the organizing chair for the Special School District’s National Education Association from 2019-2023.
Horn: In addition to my previous terms on the board, I was a member of the St. Francois County Ambulance District’s board and I was a volunteer firefighter for the Leadwood Fire Department. I also have worked as an emergency room technician.
What are the biggest problems facing the district and how would you address them?
Paul: Jefferson County is experiencing growth evident to many by the increased road traffic, but what may not be quite as noticeable is the increased emergency service calls. To manage the increase in calls, we need top-grade people to provide care and the shortage of high-quality first responders, like paramedics, poses a challenge. To attract talent and ensure optimal care, we must offer competitive wages, modern life-saving equipment, well-maintained ambulances, comprehensive training and a supportive work environment. While we’ve made progress, ongoing community support is vital as we continue to adapt to evolving challenges.
Mueller: The biggest problems facing the district are call volume and recruiting and retaining highly trained paramedics. The district has grown tremendously in recent years, which has driven up call volume. To remedy this we need our ambulance houses strategically placed and expanded to get ambulances out as quickly as possible. Our workforce is the backbone of the district. To attract high-quality paramedics, we need to maintain competitive salaries and benefits. We have been able to address both these problems while being fiscally responsible.
Horn: The current paramedics are working 48-hour shifts when a normal shift is 24 hours. My concern is on their mental awareness after the first 24 hours of the shift. If the call volumes are higher than normal, how does this affect their driving and their decision-making in the field? The district needs to hire additional paramedics to reduce the number of 48-hour shifts. Retention of our paramedics should always be a top priority for the board.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Paul: Since my appointment in 2016, we have accomplished much. Yearly, we meticulously craft a conservative balanced budget, pulling no money from reserves. We recently opened two new ambulance houses to enhance response times and are proud of our partnership with the Sheriff’s Office for a dual-use facility on Lions Den Road. This collaboration sets a precedent for cost-saving cooperation across government agencies, ensuring efficient use of taxpayer funds. If re-elected, I will aim to continue operating a district that responds to the needs of the community.
Mueller: My goals are continuing to expand district resources to address call volume such as the new House No. 5, a shared station with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Ambulances will be able to reach people quickly in the Seckman Valley and surrounding areas with this addition. Secondly, recruit and retain high-quality paramedics through partnership with higher ed programs, competitive salaries and benefits. I will continue to be fiscally responsible to the taxpayers. During my time on the board, we rolled back taxes and maintained a balanced budget.
Horn: I have experience from having served on the board in the past. I consider it a privilege and an honor to serve. It is the duty of the board to be financially responsible for the district’s budget and to be held accountable that the taxpayers’ dollars are used wisely. The district should have up-to-date equipment and ensure that all equipment is in good working condition. I also would ensure that staff receives current training.
