The Panora City Council met twice this week.

At their regular meeting Monday, the Council approved a contract with the State of Iowa for a Ground Emergency Medical Transportation grant. This will allow the state Department of Human Services to be the transferring agent to reimburse Panora Emergency Medical Services for uncompensated Medicaid transport costs. City Administrator Lisa Grossman says the reimbursements will be split 60/40 between the City and DHS, and could bring around $60,000 of annual revenue to EMS. The agreement will go retroactive to July 1st of this year.

The Council then approved an updated memorandum of understanding between the Adair and Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency, Guthrie County Health Services, Guthrie County Hospital, and Panora Community Center for use as an emergency shelter.

On Wednesday, the Council held a special meeting to approve a sales agreement with Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus for a 1997 Pierce Lance 100’ Platform Apparatus. Steve Pote and other fire department representatives examined the truck and recommended the purchase, which seeks to replace a 1975 Sutphen Ladder Truck. The agreement put forth a 10% down payment of $14,900 for the truck, which is expected to arrive in April. The City plans to borrow between $80-90,000 for the purchase. Pote recommended to the Council that they sell the former truck on an online auction site, which the Council decided to further discuss in January.