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County EMS seeks volunteers, schedules EMT class starting October/February cycle
Summary
A county EMS representative told the council the service is running below funded staffing levels and is recruiting volunteer EMTs; the next EMT training will run across a four‑month blended schedule beginning Oct. 14 (classwork online; weekly in‑person sessions).
Eric Thompson, an emergency medical services representative, briefed the council on an upcoming EMT certification class intended to boost volunteer staffing across the county.
Thompson said the county runs a volunteer ambulance service out of three stations and provides small stipends to volunteers. He told the council the roster currently lists 43 volunteers countywide while the budget funds 60 positions. He said the service fields roughly 500 calls so far this year and adds about 30 additional calls year‑over‑year.
Thompson said the class mixes online coursework with one night a week in person and is scheduled to start in mid‑October and extend into February, with an estimated four‑month timeline. He said Josh Mazza will be the lead instructor and staff who assisted in prior classes will return. The county’s compensation structure was described as stipends per 12‑hour shift ($10) plus a per‑call stipend (~$14); Thompson noted prior internal calculations showed compensation averaging roughly $3.11 an hour for sampled EMTs (several years prior) and that shifts to hourly pay had been considered but budgeted funds are currently insufficient for hourly wages at a minimum‑wage level.
Funding comes from county tax dollars (~30%) and EMS billing (~70%); Thompson said emergency management preparedness grants fund the administrative positions he and a colleague hold.
Why it matters: Volunteer EMT availability affects ambulance response capacity and local emergency coverage. The county hopes to recruit more volunteers to match funded positions and reduce staffing gaps.
What the council asked/directed: Council members asked about pay and stipend levels; Thompson described the stipend structure and funding split. The council received flyers and recruitment materials for distribution.
Next steps: County EMS will run the advertised training beginning in October/February cycle and continue local recruitment efforts; councilors were asked to help publicize the class.
