Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Fire Ems topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Court approves fire department EMT training; officials flag $8,000 truck repair and workers' comp cost concerns
Summary
Fiscal court approved funding for five firefighter EMT students but also heard that one department fire truck needs about $8,000 in repairs for an airbag sensor fault and that rising workers' compensation costs are stressing departmental budgets.
The Clark County Fiscal Court approved payment for firefighter EMT training that will certify personnel needed to maintain employment eligibility, and during the same session county leaders discussed a roughly $8,000 repair to a fire truck and rising workers' compensation costs.
Fire department leadership told the court the EMT class, hosted by Harris Fire Department, covered emergency medical technician certification required for firefighters; five students attended and one more needs training. The court approved the lump‑sum per‑student payment after a motion and second. “It is necessary for employment. They cannot retain employment with the fire department unless they become EMT qualified,” a department representative said.
Separately, staff reported that a pump sensor and an airbag fault code on one rescue truck indicated the driver’s airbag would not deploy. The vehicle was taken out of service pending parts; parts availability was estimated at about two weeks and the expected repair cost was about $8,000. Officials said they would try to reallocate small amounts from multiple line items to fund the repair if possible, otherwise a budget transfer would be necessary.
Magistrates also raised workers' compensation and retention concerns. County staff presented an overview of rising workers' compensation costs and said they would present safety‑training and budget reallocation proposals in the spring budget process to address retention and the higher claims costs.
Ending: The court approved the approved training payment and instructed department and finance staff to look for appropriations to cover the truck repair and to present a detailed safety training and budget plan in an upcoming meeting.
