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Ballard County accepts $400,000 dispatch grant, moves to finalize EMS hires and vehicle financing
Summary
Fiscal Court heard that Ballard County’s dispatch received a $400,000 Homeland Security grant restricted to dispatch infrastructure; members approved hiring and pay-step moves for an EMS paramedic pending a background check and agreed to advance a down payment on a new truck.
Ballard County Fiscal Court received an update that dispatch had been awarded a $400,000 grant from the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security but that the funds are restricted to equipment and infrastructure “inside the walls” of the dispatch center.
Anna, reporting for EMS and dispatch, said the county’s dispatch upgrade work has caused occasional routing and department-identification issues but that a pending change to route 911 calls directly to the county — rather than routing first through state police — should improve response times once implemented.
Also discussed were EMS personnel and equipment needs. Anna reported one student successfully completed training and that a second is awaiting state approval and background checks. The court moved to approve applying a pay-scale step increase effective the day a new paramedic’s Kentucky background check clears; the motion carried by voice vote.
Separately, court members discussed financing a replacement truck for EMS. Officials said the county needs a down payment of roughly $48,000–$49,000 (described internally as 40–50 percent) and would finance approximately $70,000 of the purchase price. A court member moved to make the initial payment when funds are available; the motion carried by voice vote.
Anna also told the court dispatch had completed first upgrades to console equipment and that further tuning is ongoing. She confirmed that the Homeland Security grant cannot be used for items outside the dispatch center.
The court approved rehiring an animal-control contractor (SJ) at $400 per month and approved the associated personnel motions during the meeting.
