Ambulance board discusses paramedic training pay policy
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by Patty Cheffey
The Marion County Ambulance District board again discussed setting a policy to pay for part of the paramedic training for MCAD employees during their meeting last week.
They also approved one bid, heard an update on the audit and heard an update on the district’s website.
Chief John Nemes presented a policy for the board to consider, noting the district would pay for the cost for the paramedic classes but not the books and fees.
However, the policy also stipulates that if an employee gets their license and stays for five years, they will receive 20 percent reimbursement each year on the books and fees.
While expressing his support for the idea, board member, Brandon Wells, asked if the policy could be tabled to have more time to review it and consider other possible options.
He noted he felt five years was a long time to offer the reimbursement for books and fees.
Nemes noted there was no rush on the matter, and said he felt there were other questions to be answered as well. He added the policy would still have to be run past their lawyer as well.
“Something like this is the future,” he said. “We have to recruit, and we have to do something to retain those employees.”
He noted there is also the question as to where the district draws a line as older employees also noted this type of thing was not offered to them when they did paramedic training.
He also noted there is the question of paying for paramedic training if the employee received their EMT training outside of the MCAD or an affiliate.
In a related matter, Nemes said the district is already having a few issues with those eligible to drive an ambulance.
“For some reason, kids are getting their licenses later and they come to work here with little or no experience in driving,” he said. “Then you put them in an ambulance, and that’s a whole other ballgame.”
He said the district is trying to develop a step method whereby employees would have to learn to drive an ambulance by working their way up through other district vehicles.
In other business, the board approved a bid from Storm Shield Roofing to remove the siding that was damaged by hail and replace it with new at the Administration Building in the amount of $16,580. That amount includes replacing the entire building’s siding.
Insurance should cover about half of that cost, Nemes said.
The board also heard an update on the district’s annual audit, although a completed formal report was not yet available.
Nemes noted the report was good, and Wade Stables made not recommendations for changes in processes or procedures.
Work is continuing on the district’s web page, Nemes said, adding the district is working with Streamline to host the page and the domain.
The page offers more functionality and will include a employee only page to make it easier for employees to fill out forms and access information such as insurance and policies online.
In his report, Nemes also noted Southwest has scheduled July 10 for the audio/visual upgrades to the training center.
“It was good timing,” he said. “We had some issues during training yesterday (last week).”
Once the upgrades are done, employees can get training online and will not have to be pulled off work except for the hands-on training required.
“When that happens, we will send a crew to a station to cover that for an hour or two while the regular crew comes in for training,” Nemes said. “So there will be no lapse in coverage.”
Nemes also reported they do not have a definite amount to pay back to the GEMT program, but it should be between $15,000 and $25,000.
The board also reviewed the calls for emergency services in April with Base 1-2711 handling 129 calls, Base 1-2721 handling 93 calls; Base 2, 143 calls and Base 3, 57 calls. There were also 14 off-duty transfers.
The next meeting is scheduled for June 22 at 6 p.m.
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