SALEM LAKES, Wis. — Can you be billed hundreds of dollars simply because someone else thought you might be hurt? Many residents in Salem Lakes and neighboring Paddock Lake say yes — and they’re furious about it.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Kenosha County Eye has received multiple complaints about ambulance bills issued by the Village of Salem Lakes Fire Department, including charges for situations where the person being billed was neither injured nor treated. In one recent case, a resident told KCE they were billed more than $500 for a “suspected injury” — even though they were not hurt, declined treatment, and never requested emergency assistance. Someone else had called 9-1-1 on their behalf.
“I didn’t ask for an ambulance, I didn’t get treated, and I still got a bill,” the resident said. “It feels like a scam.”
While it is common for EMS agencies in Wisconsin to charge for services like IV administration, medication, or transport to a hospital, what’s happening in Salem Lakes appears to go a step further. Multiple people have reported receiving large invoices despite refusing service or not needing it in the first place. And with fewer insurance plans covering non-transport EMS responses since the Affordable Care Act, residents are often left footing the bill.
Salem Lakes provides EMS services for the neighboring Village of Paddock Lake as well. Residents there have reported similar issues, describing the bills as “predatory” and “unfair.”
This wave of complaints comes as Fire Chief Al Carr faces increasing scrutiny. Carr, who took over the department last year, initially drew praise for bringing experience from the City of Kenosha Fire Department. But now, current and former department members say Carr has failed to lead effectively and has allowed questionable promotions and favoritism to thrive.
One detailed letter sent to KCE accused Carr of relying heavily on the assistant chief and a lieutenant to manage day-to-day operations, despite widespread concerns about professionalism and decision-making. The letter claimed that staff morale is low and that promotions have been handed out based on personal ties rather than merit.
“He leaves most of his leadership duties to the assistant chief and a lieutenant,” the letter said. “Many believe those in command are making decisions based more on long-standing personal relationships than qualifications or performance.”
The lieutenant in question had previously resigned from the department under a former chief following internal disagreements but was rehired and quickly promoted upon her return. Critics within the department question whether this was appropriate, citing her long absence and prior departure.
Chief Carr did not respond to multiple requests for comment about either the billing concerns or the internal management of the department. After initially acknowledging outreach from KCE, Carr delayed the interview and ultimately stopped replying altogether.
Village officials have also remained silent. No policy changes have been announced, and no explanation has been offered to residents about the charges being issued for “suspected injuries” where no care was given.
Until that changes, residents are being warned: if someone calls 9-1-1 on your behalf, you could be the one getting the bill — even if you’re perfectly fine.
34 Responses
I got a bill. Im not paying.
Some more Hiller fund raising for her radical agenda. They need money to fix the wetlands.
Honestly I don’t know why any actual Salem resident has to pay for the ambulance ride ?
Is that in our base of taxes ?
To have a department at the ready ?
Sure go ahead and bill my insurance company. Take what they give and go away. Don’t come asking for the difference.
Out of towners in a car accident ? Sure, send them a bill. But me? No. I already paid and in 30 years never called once !
This should also go for the towns/villages that contract with them also…Paddock Lake and Brighton, as they are paid from them for their services. Glad to see Paddock Lake will be getting quality service from Bristol. Hope to see Brighton check out other services also.
Anyone who utilizes an ambulance or fire engine will be billed.
And what if (based upon the findings), you never rec’d ANYTHING yet are billed?!? That town better get ready because this isn’t even remotely legal.
…… my taxes pay for them to be ready. 24/7/365.
That’s what my taxes are for. To have them sit.
Then if I use it, bill me. But for residents, only the insurance pay out. Nothing more
Actually most agencies charge for ambulance transports – its very commonplace. Some have resident and non-resident rates. “usually” and it varies from agency, no transport = no bill, so a “Lift assist” and no transport = no bill* (*repeat users may get a bill – depends on ordinance). on-scene treatment (typically diabetic) IV start and dextrose (sugar) administration, you likely will get a bill w/o a transport.
Taxes ? generally about 30 cents of the dollar received goes to the municipality. from that payroll, equipment for fire, police (contracted or in-house, and DPW) is spent.
Each community usually has a breakdown of where their tax dollars go…..
Let’s go a step further and ask the Fire and Police commisuon, where the hell are they in the decisuon making on hiring and promotions. This is a legal issue that these posiins are being appointed by the Fire Chief without going through them first. Everything about this Village is as crooked snd illegal as it comes. What a frickin joke.
I hope someone gets the state involved before someone gets hurt or worse because the patients are not being put 1st. Power is.
Everyone is upset and wants someone else to do something…get of your asses and do it yourself. Obviously waiting for someone else to do anything about the Village isn’t working.
Don’t understand why the PFC doesn’t act..
They tried. Listen to the PFC meeting recording from 9/25/23. Link below – fast forward to 24:35. You hear the PFC reprimand the fire chief for re-hiring Jill Torres behind their back after she was fired by the previous chief. The minutes confirm her name. So the FD ignores the PFC by hiring her back anyway, and then makes her into a chief!
https://voslwi.gov/vertical/sites/%7BFD43A93D-1DA7-4F52-8644-C09DA66C3401%7D/uploads/Fire_Commission_Audio_9.25.23.mp3
This is what happens when you fire/eliminate the person responsible for handling billing and outsource to ‘program’/software generated company to do the billing for you.
The lieutenant who QUIT did so in the middle of a training by taking off her department shirt and throwing it on the ground. She was gone for over 6 years before she conveniently came back after her boyfriend (oh sorry they’re just best friends) became the assistant chief.
Oh, you mean the boyfriend and girlfriend who got promoted to full time command positions with major salary increases when part time staff got peanuts (if anything) and full time staff is severely underpaid. Yeah, those two? Nothing in this Village isn’t crooked…
Yep those two.
But but wait- they’re just best friends.
How many people have left/been forced out since she started???
Wait, the assistant chief and lieutenant are in a relationship? Doesn’t that break some kind of rules, how does that affect the hierarchy? Doesn’t the department have any non-fraternization rule in its handbook? Seems like that could be problematic. 🤔
Oh she’s not a lieutenant anymore. She’s a Division chief or some other bullshit now.
Haha!!! A handbook?? That’s funny. That department has no policies or guidelines. Leadership changes things and makes things up day to day to what suits them at that minute. There used to be guidelines under the old leadership.
Haha!!! A handbook?? That’s funny. That department has no policies or guidelines. Leadership changes things and makes things up day to day to what suits them at that minute. There used to be guidelines under the old leadership.
Yes!! Im so glad you mentioned that. Her “hiring” and past history with the department meds to be investigated. Leaving for that long, with that exit, and then coming back being hired as an officer with no hiring process and then quickly “promoted” to a “chief” in a few months is shady. Guess its not who you know…..
Its gets you places.
Her and her boyfriend run the department
threw her shirt at the chief who called her and her boyfriend (assistant chief) out for playing touchy feely during training. then came crying back saying she didn’t quit so she was actually FIRED for lying about everything to everyone she could.
And let’s not pretend their relationship is new. They’ve been together since 2012/2013. Ask Keskes ex-wife about him leaving his truck at Salem station saying he was out of town for training and having to call the sheriff’s department and then the fire chief to verify he was on fact NOT out of town for training. Chief Carr and the fire commission continue to believe their flat out lies about their very LONG relationship.
And do we really think that he made it through school on his own?? Or did he have some computer help. The man could never handle a simple medical call or an accident and he’s the number 2 guy (but again we all know who really wears those pants)
Everyone knows about Jill and Keske’s relationship. It’s not a secret. But hey, the Village saves on hotel room costs when they attend conferences together.
Actually, I believe one of the board packets posted online indicated the village paid for two rooms when they both went to the same training. No savings.
Well that’s a bummer because you can probably safely bet one of those rooms went unused.
Yeah, something definately stinks here!
I feel like Ive heard this story before. Isn’t she the lieutenant who is still married and she lives with the assistant chief?
Dude Kevin Matthew’s
Youre great about investigating the corruption in the other smaller communities in KC. You seriously need to lay into the so called leadership in PP and Lie-osha. The corruption is beyond reason in those communities. Do your investigative work to enlighten those community members and children for Christ sake. Both those communities are way over their heads in corruption. You’re not being fair
What do you think he’s been doing for the last 8 years
Using the words “bringing experience from the City of Kenosha Fire Department” is always viewed as a NEGATIVE. Not sure why anyone would think otherwise. The KFD was/is and always will be a red flag for any agency looking to hire anyone from the department.
THIS is actually a better way to view anyone that was part of the KFD, “has failed to lead effectively and has allowed questionable promotions and favoritism to thrive”.
Who would think that a volunteer/ combination fire and EMS department would benefit from the leadership of someone who has never been a volunteer or served in a combination department? Kenosha isn’t Salem. Need someone with Salem experience along with high level training and education which Lejcar didn’t have.
Is billing residents for services new?
Nope, but billing for non transport when treatment isn’t provided is new. But… The village board should have reviewed, discussed, and voted to approve that so the community had an opportunity to voice an opinion and if they didn’t the chief should be fired.
They settled for a chief.. they took the easy way out and hired Al Carr so they didn’t have to deal with trying to find somebody who is qualified for the job.