The Crawford County Commission approved an agreement to fund an employee’s paramedic training in return for a minimum two‑year service commitment, with a repayment requirement if the employee leaves before that period.

County staff said the program has worked well in prior years and that the agreement requires a two‑year minimum employment period; if the obligation is not met the employee must repay the county. Staff said one local employee is beginning paramedic classes and that there are additional candidates in the pipeline.

Staff also noted the training itself is "a little over one year," according to county administration, and welcomed the county’s ability to support local employees to become paramedics. Commissioners moved to accept the agreement and authorized the chair to sign the document during the meeting; the motion was placed on the record and seconded.

The agreement is aimed at building local EMS capacity by supporting training costs while retaining employees for a defined period. Staff said the county has had success with similar agreements previously and that growing local paramedic capacity is a stated priority.