Question and Answer on Fire/EMS contract - 12/18/2021 and 12/22/2021 - Town of Palmyra

DATCP Notice regarding Avian Flu – Notice Date: 3/6/26: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in Jefferson County FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 6, 2026Contact: Sam GO, Communications Director, (608) 334-0220, [email protected] Download PDF MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has identified a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry flock in Jefferson County. DATCP and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) animal health officials are working together in a joint incident response. The affected premises has been quarantined to restrict movement of poultry and poultry products. Birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system. The H5N1 HPAI virus has continued to circulate in both wild and domestic birds in North America since December 2021. H5N1 HPAI viruses are highly contagious and often fatal to domestic poultry. Caused by influenza type A viruses, the disease varies in severity depending on the strain and species affected. The disease can be spread by contact with infected birds, commingling with wild birds or their droppings, equipment, or clothing worn by anyone working with the animals. DATCP continues to urge all livestock owners to implement strong biosecurity measures to protect their flocks and herds from the disease. This includes washing hands, disinfecting equipment, restricting access to animals, and separating new additions to the flock or herd for at least 30 days. Poultry owners are asked, when possible, to keep their birds indoors. When HPAI is diagnosed in a Wisconsin poultry flock, a control area is established within a 10 kilometer area around the infected premises, restricting movement on or off any premises with poultry. To help producers determine if their poultry are located within an active control area or surveillance zone, poultry owners are encouraged to use DATCP's mapping tool. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and Jefferson County Public Health are monitoring exposed farm workers for HPAI symptoms. The risk to the general public in Wisconsin remains low. Prevention information for farmworkers or others who have close contact with birds, dairy cows, or other relevant animals can be found under https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/occupational-health/farm-health.htm. DATCP reminds Wisconsin livestock owners to register their premises. State law requires that all livestock owners register where their animals are kept. Registration helps animal health officials communicate with flock and herd owners during disease outbreaks. To report increased mortality or signs of illness among domestic birds, dairy cattle, or other animals, contact a DATCP district veterinarian. For updates on how the virus is affecting domestic birds in Wisconsin, and to find resources on protecting Wisconsin poultry, visit DATCP's HPAI in Poultry webpage: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/HPAIWisconsin.aspx. H5N1 in Other Species The HPAI H5N1 virus has continued to circulate in both wild and domestic birds in North America since December 2021. Since that time, the H5N1 virus has also affected other species, including mammalian species. Wisconsin previously identified an H5N1 infection in one dairy herd in the state last year. The quarantine was released for that farm. DATCP continues to work with USDA to conduct testing for H5N1, encourage biosecurity, and provide resources to producers. For updates on how the H5N1 virus is affecting dairy cattle across the country, and to find resources on protecting Wisconsin dairy cattle, visit DATCP's H5N1 in Dairy Cattle webpage: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/AvianInfluenzaCattle.aspx.

Posted on December 28, 2021

Question and Answer on Fire/EMS contract – 12/18/2021 and 12/22/2021

Q. To the Town of Palmyra Board members and the Fire/EMS committee people. In respect to the town board meeting re: fire/ems services and in reading the response to the question that was posed on this website, I now have more questions than before regarding the board and committee looking into other public/private options. Here are my questions: What is the ISO rating of each of your other” options”? Are these “options” 5 driving miles or less from us constituents? Where are their water sources? What types of equipment is owned? Who owns them? Who maintains them? Where is this equipment stored? Is there 24/7 coverage? Who pays the personnel? How many full and part time personnel are employed at each of your “options”? Who pays for the training of said personnel? And the most important question I have is what is the average response time on a fire/ems call of each of your “options” to us constituents? Is the response time 4.5 minutes or less? As we all know, in the case of a medical emergency, such as heart attacks or strokes, seconds count and with structure fires, a fast response time can mean the difference between losing little or losing everything.

Q. Could you please provide the ISO (Insurance Services Office) ratings for any options you are considering in lieu of the Palmyra Public Safety Department contract.

A. At this point, the committee has not gathered all of the information you request. The committee has begun by investigating the possibility and efficiency of splitting the Town into separate parts and joining districts which already serve our community via MABAS. The committee has also considered the efficiency of becoming part of a single other district and providing space for emergency vehicles within the Town. There has been no thought given to any service that does not provide 24/7 coverage. As I am sure you are aware, many constituents in the Town do not currently receive 4.5 minute responses, nor does the Village claim that they do.

Should the Town board wish the fire and ems committee to continue investigating options for service other than service from the Village of Palmyra, the committee will continue doing so in 2022 and report that information to the Town board.