WALLACE – Last week, Fire Chief Scott Dietrich met with the Shoshone County Commissioners to discuss funding concerns surrounding four ambulances previously ordered by the county. 

According to Dietrich, a misunderstanding between the commissioners and the Shoshone County Ambulance Service District (SCASD), the advisory board that manages funding for the county’s three fire districts, led to an overestimation of available funds after the emergency vehicles were ordered. 

“The advisory board thought they had more money in the bank,” Dietrich said. “We have since learned that is not the case.” 

Dietrich said SCASD had been operating under the assumption of a $2 million budget but only brought in $1.2 million in revenue. 

The four ambulances were ordered separately, from two different companies. Two of them are expected to arrive in late summer or early fall. One has been partially paid for using grant funds, but still carries a remaining balance. For the other three ambulances, plus the remaining balance on the fourth, the county currently owes $867,120. 

To address the shortfall, Dietrich contacted several financial institutions ahead of the meeting. US Bank returned the most favorable offer: $147,412 per year for seven years. Dietrich told the commissioners that this payment amount was feasible within SCASD’s annual budget. 

Commissioner Jeff Zimmerman expressed discomfort with the loan proposal, citing potential conflicts with Idaho law. While he didn’t reject the idea outright, he said he would consult county prosecutor Ben Allen to determine whether the loan is legally permissible. 

Article 8 of the Idaho Constitution does allow counties to incur debt for hospital and health services, but the rules for loans are murky and include specific dollar thresholds and timeframes to remain legal. 

Further confusion arose when Commissioner Melissa Cowles noted she could not find records of commissioner approval for the third and fourth ambulance purchases. She confirmed that the first two were approved in fall 2024. 

Currently, Shoshone County operates five ambulances for regular emergency calls, with a sixth used for patient transfers from the hospital to a nearby helipad. Dietrich explained that while two of the five ambulances are newer, they’ve already accumulated high mileage. The remaining three have been repaired so extensively that they are now considered irreparable. 

“Our mechanic can’t keep the older ambulances on the road. They’re constantly breaking down. So we definitely need to get them replaced,” Dietrich said. 

He also emphasized the importance of reliable transport, noting that Shoshone Medical Center is a critical access, rural hospital that can only stabilize patients. Many emergencies require transport to facilities like Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, with about one-third of call-outs resulting in patient transfers to Kootenai County. 

The commissioners asked Dietrich to gather additional data, including call volumes and the frequency of having more than two ambulances out on calls, while they consulted with the county’s legal team. 

Zimmerman also requested that Dietrich inquire about potential penalties if they decide to cancel their orders.