In answer to the newly revived hate rhetoric that Ellen Reh-Bower somehow was responsible for the financial collapse of the LMRFD in 2013, and that she did nothing to warn people that it was going to happen, and therefore is unfit for the position of LMRFD Board member.  It is time the truth is out.  For now, I will just post some of the documentation, proving that I did keep everyone informed of the declining financial status of the LMRFD, and DID request that personnel be notified.  The chain of command in the LMRFD has the Secretary/Office Manager directly under the Fire Chief.  I had NO authority over spending, and nobody paid any attention to my multiple warnings.  Nor did they pay any attention to the Auditor's warning, the banker, or the County Treasurer's office.  We had 3 chiefs spending like drunken sailors on holiday, and the last one standing told the crew I was at fault for the LMRFD's failure, saying I never told him what our financial situation was.  That was a lie.  Here is proof otherwise.  First, copies of a few of the emails I sent to everyone, keeping them informed.

From: Ellen Reh
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2012 11:13 AM
To: akoons@lmrfd.org ; aturner@lmrfd.org ; adeangelo@lmrfd.org ; amichaels@lmrfd.org ;
bkeller@lmrfd.org ; Bwildebaur@lmrfd.org ; cmitchell@lmrfd.org ; csmith@lmrfd.org ;
dsfireman@hotmail.com ; dgilbert@lmrfd.org ; ereh@lmrfd.org ; fhamer@lmrfd.org ; Tony DeAngelo ;
john molitor ; gmoyers@lmrfd.org ; Gracie Blair ; jhoeft@lmrfd.org ; jtusa@lmrfd.org ;
kloomis@lmrfd.org ; mhruz@lmrfd.org ; mlowry@lmrfd.org ; Nancy Hussey ; Suzann Newell ;
rbaldwin@lmrfd.org ; rparonto@lmrfd.org ; sarnold@lmrfd.org ; Floyd Nash
Subject: Copy of arcr_long.xls

Hi All,
In an ongoing effort to help the staff and board of the Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District gain a thorough
understanding of the financial machinery that operates behind the scene, and which supports the structure of
the Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District’s Ambulance Service, I am attaching a copy of the Ambulance Revenue
and Cost Report for Fiscal Year 2010/2011. This was the 3+ months long project I was tasked with for the
purpose of gaining our ambulance rate increase with the Arizona Department of Health Services. I learned a lot
in the process of researching and preparing this report. It was sent back to me at least a dozen times by DHS,
with inquiries into various categories as to why our ambulance cost of operation was so high, with only 573
billable calls for the year. I had to write explanations justifying the high cost of personnel, fuel, and
maintenance, among other things. Most astounding to me was the revelation gained from comparing the
actual cost of operating the ambulance service versus the income it produces. Notice that the Ambulance
service income for that year was $721,517, while the amount the Fire District subsidized the Ambulance
service was $1,441,526! That dollar amount would have shown as a loss in any other business. But because
we are a Fire District, the taxpayers picked up the tab and covered the loss. It is nearly 3 times the amount of
the property tax shortfall for that year. The problem seems not to be so much falling tax revenue, as a bloated
Ambulance service that is failing to adjust to a reduced subsidy income. The argument has been made that with
our ambulance rate increase we will make so many more dollars in ambulance revenue. That argument is not
based in reality. It doesn’t matter what we set our rate at, the insurance companies will only pay what they
pay, and they all base their rates on the current “Medicare Allowable” rates. The one exception is AHCCCS,
which pays a percentage of the amount billed. However, with ever increasing ambulance rates, AHCCCS has
adjusted by paying an ever decreasing percentage. Whereas AHCCCS paid 80% consistently 6 years ago, that
amount has steadily decreased by increments. AHCCCS now pays 68%-70%. AHCCCS is no longer paying at all
on some persons who used to be covered, so they ride for free, because we cannot get blood out of a turnip, (or
out of an uninsured or homeless person we pick up on Hwy 93.) Food for thought as we move forward in
identifying and solving our financial problems.
Ellen

From: Ellen Reh
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2012 2:33 PM
To: nhussey@citlink.net
Subject: Emailing: Image (19).tif

Hi Nancy,
Attached is the final 1213 budget, per your request. As I mentioned on the phone, based on updated
information from Mohave County and actual collected taxes for FY 2011/2012, a more realistic expectation for
Tax Income might be $520,000. Also, updated Mohave County information estimates the FDAT at
$80,220. Additionally, the Ambulance Service Income, estimated to be $650,000 due to our recently approved
rate increase, is overstated because it matters not what we set our rate at, we can only receive what the
insurance companies agree to pay. Medicare has a set rate which has only changed by small increments over
the last few years, and Medicare allowable rates are what is allowed by other insurance companies. AHCCCS,
our other major insurance payer, has reduced the percentage it pays from 80% a few years ago, incrementally
each year to the current 69%. Our ambulance income over the last few years has remained fairly steady in the
$450,000 - $500,000 range and there are no factors indicating it is realistic to expect a $150,000 increase to that
this year.
Additional factors affecting the final budget include the increase for previous Assistant Chief wage to Fire Chief
wage, adding $16,568 to wage expense, and continuing the Fire Chief as Consultant at half time, half pay for 6
months, reduces that wage by $10,400, leaving a $6,168 net increase in projected wages.
Thank you for your inquiry. If you would like further information please feel free to contact me.
Ellen

From: Ellen Reh
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2012 11:00 AM
To: mhruz@lmrfd.org
Cc: Floyd Nash ; Nancy Hussey ; Suzann Newell
Subject: FW: New Treasurer and Balances
FYI
From: Vickie Oliver [mailto:Vickie.Oliver@mohavecounty.us]
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2012 10:38 AM
To: Ellen Reh
Subject: Re: New Treasurer and Balances
Hi Ellen,
The new treasurer is not here until the first of January. You may still contact me for balances up to December 21st. after
that, Bill Barker will help you.
Any arrangements made with Melissa will have to be renegotiated with the new treasurer.
Vickie
Vickie Oliver
Chief Deputy Treasurer
Mohave County
928-753-0766
vickie.oliver@co.mohave.az.us
>>> "Ellen Reh" <EReh@LMRFD.org> 12/4/2012 10:22 AM >>>
Good Morning Vickie,
I assume our new treasurer has taken office by now. Will I still be able to contact you for balances? Is there
contact info for her yet? Is she aware of our arrangement and shall I continue with my current policy, informing
of our status while requesting balances? Chief Hruz will want to arrange a meeting with her sometime after the
first of the year, after she gets settled in and we are all finished with Holiday activities.
Thank you, and have a wonderful week!
Ellen

LMRFD Line of Credit.docx

From: Ellen Reh
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 4:35 PM
To: mullint@azdhs.gov
Cc: mhruz@lmrfd.org ; Floyd Nash ; Suzann Newell ; Nancy Hussey
Subject: Mileage & EMS Subscription
Hi Terry,
It was good to meet you today. I am writing as per your instructions, to request a re-determination on our
request earlier this year for a mileage rate increase and an addition to our C.O.N. for a Subscription Rate of
$175.00 per person.
I am including recent communications with Chief Hruz, the Board Members, and Jeff Sundheimer of Wells
Fargo, bank for Mohave County and our Fire District, to punctuate the severity of our present situation.
Thank you for taking your time to come visit us, and for your efforts to help.
Sincerely,
Ellen

Ellen Reh-Bower
Office Manager
Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District
P.O. Box 611
Dolan Springs, AZ 86441
928/ 767-3300
Fax: 928/767-3301
EREH@LMRFD.ORG
From: Ellen Reh [mailto:LMRFD@Citlink.net]
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 3:50 PM
To: mhruz@lmrfd.org; rparonto@lmrfd.org; Floyd Nash (FloydNSH@yahoo.com); Nancy Hussey
(NHussey@citlink.net); Suzann Newell (newellpost2@citlink.net)
Subject: FW: Balance on LOC
HI All,
With the $13,985 available on our Line of Credit, and cleaning out all of our other accounts, we should be able
to make the final payroll for 2012, to include final payout of overtime booked as flex and unpaid to date. This
will leave approximately $19,000 in bills unpaid, and $17,000 in medical insurance premiums for January
unpaid. Without some assurance soon of funds coming in before the next payroll due January 2, 2013,
personnel need to be made aware of the situation so they can decide whether or not they want to work for
IOU’s.
Ellen

(I drew up a document to inform personnel of the situation and to request signature for voluntarily working for IOU's.  The chief in charge forbid me passing it around, saying it was his job as "chief" to tell them himself. (There is at least one witness to that interchange.) He went into the kitchen, closed the door, and told the personnel on duty and then others afterward, that they weren't getting paid and it was all Ellen's fault)

From: Jeffrey.J.Sundheimer@wellsfargo.com [mailto:Jeffrey.J.Sundheimer@wellsfargo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 2:58 PM
To: LMRFD@Citlink.net
Subject: RE: Balance on LOC
Ellen
The current available balance on the warrant clearing line is $13,985.00. I’m am hopeful to have some
guidance for the District on Wells Fargo’s ability to provide an equipment finance loan soon. I am still
waiting for our equipment finance group to finish their analysis of the unencumbered equipment
owned by the District.

From: Ellen Reh [mailto:LMRFD@Citlink.net]
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 9:48 AM
To: Sundheimer, Jeffrey J
Cc: mhruz@lmrfd.org; rparonto@lmrfd.org; Floyd Nash; Nancy Hussey; Suzann Newell
Subject: Balance on LOC
Good Morning Jeff,
I hate to bother you with such a mundane request, but have not received any response from County and would
like to know what we have available on our LOC so I can plan for payroll next week.
A lot of information was shared at the board meeting, and new board members were sworn in. The Chief’s
report was very encouraging and everyone seems hopeful about our long term prospects for generating
revenue from fire subscriptions, annexations, other fire service projects, and grant writing that Chief Hruz is
implementing. They are also hopeful that restructuring our debt with Wells Fargo and putting up our assets as
collateral will keep us afloat until the other sources of revenue materialize. All seem reluctant to make any
moves until we have an idea of how that is going to work.
Thank you,
Ellen

-----Original Message-----
From: Ellen Reh
Sent: Friday, December 28, 2012 12:33 PM
To: mhruz@lmrfd.org
Cc: Floyd Nash ; Nancy Hussey ; Suzann Newell
Subject: FW: [Shared Post] CHIEF HRUZ TO SPEAK AT WHITEHILLS BBQ
Hi All,
Chief Hruz had positive results from his meeting with Cindy Cox, the new
County Treasurer, on Wednesday. She was appalled at the situation our Fire
District has found itself in, and has pledged to make our financial survival
her top priority upon entering office. She assured Chief Hruz that our next
3 payrolls would be covered and not to worry about paying our employees. I
did not get quite so definite a response with a follow up call regarding our
other bills. They are currently at $38,000 with another $15,000 expected
next week when our fuel bill comes in from the Kingman Unified School
District. We did manage to scrape up enough to make the last payroll for
2012.
Grace Blair submitted her resignation yesterday. She is going to pursue her
dispatch career, for which she has taken numerous classes and achieved
various certifications the last few years. She has been asked to apply at
the new dispatch center in Kingman. We wish her the best.
I am attaching a link to the press release posted on our website for the
meeting to take place in Whitehills January 5.
Have a great weekend!
Ellen

From: Ellen Reh
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 9:41 AM
To: mhruz@lmrfd.org ; rparonto@lmrfd.org ; Floyd Nash ; Nancy Hussey ; Suzann Newell
Subject: FW: Balances
From: Randy Vanderplaats [mailto:Randy.Vanderplaats@mohavecounty.us]
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 9:27 AM
To: Ellen Reh
Subject: Re: Balances
Sorry Ellen, I was out of the office yesterday.
As of yesterday you have no available line of credit. Wells Fargo has frozen your loan.
If you have any questions let me know.
Randy VanderPlaats
Office Asst Sr - Accounting
Mohave County
Treasurer's Office
Accounting Dept
Ph.928-753-0737 ext 4073
randy.vanderplaats@mohavecounty.us
On 1/22/2013 at 9:31 AM, in message <005a01cdf8bd$f03e3b10$d0bab130$@Citlink.net>,
"Ellen Reh" <LMRFD@Citlink.net> wrote:
Good Morning Randy,
Do we have any money available on the LOC?
Thank you,
Ellen
Ellen Reh-Bower
Office Manager
Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District