Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ems Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents and supervisors raise urgency about EMS staffing gaps; board asks staff to cost converting 12‑hour to 24‑hour coverage
Summary
Supervisors and residents pressed county leadership for faster action to restore or expand EMS/rescue coverage in under-served areas; board asked staff to estimate costs to move 12‑hour coverage toward 24‑hour staffing for Station 3.
Multiple speakers at the Sept. 17 Fluvanna County Board meeting raised concerns about gaps in rescue/EMS coverage in parts of the county and urged faster staffing and service changes.
Residents and supervisors cited geographic response-time gaps and said certain parts of the county remain far from staffed rescue squads. One supervisor urged the board to consider converting short-term 12‑hour staffing to 24‑hour coverage where recruitment and budget permit. County staff confirmed the county is recruiting and rebuilding EMS staffing after turnover, that the county currently operates 24‑hour coverage in some stations, and that hiring preferences and shift patterns (12‑hour vs. 24‑hour) factor into placement decisions.
What the board asked staff to do: Supervisors asked staff to prepare a proposal and cost estimate to move from 12‑hour to 24‑hour coverage at the identified station(s) — including possible short‑term options funded from contingency if budgets allow — and to report back in time for budget discussions. A supervisor asked for an estimate of savings realized to date and the marginal cost to restore or expand coverage.
Why this matters: EMS and rescue coverage affect emergency response times for medical and life‑safety calls; supervisors and residents argued that parts of the county currently face unacceptable delays and urged a timely staffing plan tied to budget priorities.
Ending: Staff said recruitment is underway and that the EMS supervisor has candidates in process; the board asked staff to return with cost estimates and options for restoring daytime/24‑hour coverage and for the board to consider during upcoming budget deliberations.
