CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The new Kanawha County ambulance authority chief has lofty goals for what’s ahead.
Lance Wheeler was unanimously approved as the new Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority (KCEAA) executive director last Thursday. Wheeler submitted his resignation from the Kanawha County Commission to accept the KCEAA position. He will begin as KCEAA executive director on Wednesday.
Wheeler was a guest on “580 Live” with Dave Allen last week and outlined a top priority for the KCEAA under his leadership.
“My goal is within my first year as executive director of the KCEAA, we’re going to have a balanced budget because we’re going to work hard,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler pointed to his work on the Kanawha County Commission to support his appointment. He said the commission has accomplished a lot during his nearly six-year tenure, including expansion of the Hatfield-McCoy dirtbike trails and the addition of the Appalachian Outlaw Trails in the county.
The decision to accept the KCEAA position was not made lightly, Wheeler said.
“I didn’t take this job because it’s easy. I took this job because I think KCEAA is worth investing in,” Wheeler said. “The employees, the citizens of Kanawha County, and making sure that we’re continuing to move forward, increasing the training, increasing the transparency, and bringing confidence into an agency that I have seen for the last six years as a board member.”
Wheeler noted the KCEAA was dealing with a $5 million deficit in 2021 when he was first appointed to the authority board. He said at that point, KCEAA was facing 16 months until bankrupcy. Wheeler said the Kanawha County Commission helped the authority make significant changes within a short timeframe to counteract the financial turmoil.
Those changes included examination into how the KCEAA’s billing services could be more efficient. Wheeler said the authority also adjusted its tiered response, ensuring that it could serve everyone who needed care but maximizing efficiency at the same time. Wheeler cited “tremendous savings” with those adjustments, but said the KCEAA has purchased brand-new ambulances and dealt with inflation — which have run up costs.
Wheeler said the deficit is closer to $2 million at this point.
Wheeler takes the place of interim director Jason Sergent, who served in the role for a month after Monica Mason resigned May 28. Sergent will shift into the KCEAA deputy director position. Wheeler emphasized that Sergent and other members of the authority are “100 percent on board” with his plans going forward.
The KCEAA will operate with a team effort, Wheeler said, rather than from the top down. Wheeler said he brings financial experience to the role and will rely on Sergent for the hands-on ambulance experience and knowledge. Their collaboration will be key, Wheeler said.
“Jason and I both have strengths, and we don’t share those strengths, though,” Wheeler said. “I come in with financial experience, budgeting a $70 million county commission budget, when we’ve seen political pressure of inflation that’s come in, and we had to make tough cuts, but we didn’t cut essential services. Finding where those deficiencies are, that’s what we’re going to do at KCEAA.”
Wheeler said the authority wants to ensure the people of Kanawha County receive the care they deserve. He said the authority will achieve that through supporting its workers.
“The employees, and how great and hardworking they are, and how much they care,” Wheeler said. “Making sure that we show that to the public, and do everything we can, to be there when seconds matter with an ambulance. Whether it’s yourself, whether it’s a family member, or somebody in the community, that’s our mission.”
A wrinkle to Wheeler’s appointment is his state senate candidacy. Wheeler beat Dr. Steven Eshenaur and incumbent Kevan Bartlett in the May primary election for the Republican nomination in the 8th District. He’ll face Democrat Kim Hundley in the November general election.
Wheeler said he was already looking at leaving the Kanawha County Commission because of his state senate candidacy, and the KCEAA position lent an opportunity to continue with first responders that he’s supported while on the commission. Wheeler said it’s imperative to make sure fire, police, EMS, Metro 911 telecommunicators, and others have the funding they need — so that they can respond when emergency occurs.
“This has given me an opportunity to still be with them, and push us towards getting to a balanced budget,” Wheeler said. “Getting to a point to where we’re innovating, and finding more creative ways of how we can serve the patients that we serve, not just in Kanawha County, but the state of West Virginia.”
If Wheeler secures the 8th District state senate seat, he said he’s planning to serve in both roles — state senate and the KCEAA. Wheeler said he’s had lots of conversations with Sergent and the KCEAA board about that possibility.
Above all, Wheeler said he wants to hear from all members of the KCEAA. He said he’ll have an open-door policy to encourage dialogue.
“This isn’t going to be the higher-ups telling everyone what they’re going to do,” Wheeler said. “The way that I manage is coming in, I listen, I hear them, and I give them a voice. That’s what we’re going to do at KCEAA. We’re going to give employees a voice, we’re going to have more open meetings, more transparency, not just with the public but with the employees, too.”
Wheeler said the goal is for the authority to come together and find more creative ways to save lives in Kanawha County. He said it’s about listening to the employees out in the field to understand what they’re going through.
The authority received sharp criticism in April when the public death of John Lucas, 45, of Elkview took place. Lucas was run over by a 19-year-old Kanawha County ambulance driver and dragged for more than a mile. The ambulance driver pleaded guilty to the felony charges in Lucas’ death.
Wheeler said by fostering more dialogue and emphasizing the values of the organization, employees will keep them in mind when they’re out in the field.
Wheeler’s replacement on the Kanawha County Commission will be appointed on an interim basis. The new commissioner must be from the Magistrate District 3 or 4 in Kanawha County, as well as a Republican. Commission President Ben Salango and Commissioner Natalie Tennant will discuss potential appointments, and if they do not agree — the Republican Executive Committee will submit three names for consideration.
Salango and Tennant would each strike a name, and the remaining candidate would become the interim commissioner. The full-time commissioner will be elected in November.
Salango said those conversations are likely to take place during the commission’s July 23 meeting.