Ambulance staffers rejected again

The Cole County Commission opted Tuesday not to add new ambulance staff, denying a second request from Cole County Ambulance Director Jerry Johnston to add a 12-hour, seven-day-a-week crew.

The commission approved a new transfer van for the ambulance service in April but did not approve a request for two new crew members.

The cost for the van and a new ambulance totaled $233,000.

Although only $220,000 was budgeted this year for ambulances, Johnston said the service should avoid having to purchase a new ambulance next year, as had been planned.

Johnston said the service will get rid of two ambulances - with one going to the Sheriff's Department for use as a special operations vehicle and the other to be sold.

At the same April meeting, Johnston proposed hiring two new EMTs to staff the transfer van. Although commissioners were receptive to Johnston's proposal, they were wary of spending more money on the service after recent increases to the ambulance budget - adding five employees and putting in a new computer dispatch service, all totaling $376,263.

The commission in March approved increasing rates on some types of calls. Johnston said it could be as much as 180 days before the service sees the effect of that change.

He added they are looking at another potential rate increase in 2018 since service charges remain low compared to other area ambulance services.

Johnston said in April emergency calls had remained at a steady, not increasing, level since he arrived in January, while the volume for calls for transfers was increasing.

Johnston said he understood when he was hired that increasing the service's ability to do transfers should be his priority as director.

Western District Commissioner Kris Scheperle and Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Hoelscher said they didn't believe that priority was discussed - rather, the service's top priority should be to handle 911 calls.

"We only have so many people and resources," Scheperle said. "We've given money for more people, new ambulances, and remodeled the ambulance headquarters. We don't have an unlimited budget. I want us to be an efficient service and do the best that we can."

Hoelscher added, "We lived without being able to take the transfers in the past, and we'll continue now."

Hoelscher said he'd like Johnston to continue sharing statistics on calls with the commissioners so they could see more justification for adding staff in the future.

Johnston said the service ran 955 calls in April, near its all-time record of 971, noting they could reach 1,125 for May if the rate of calls continues. He said they had to use overtime funds to bring in crews to cover shifts, and he is concerned about staff burnout and the ability to take care of emergency calls adequately.