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Wayne County approves EMS Option A to add staff and a 12-hour revenue truck
Summary
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners approved Option A for EMS staffing on Jan. 6, 2025, authorizing roughly $610,000 in new recurring cost to add positions intended to reduce overtime and fund a 12-hour “revenue” ambulance for non‑911 transfers.
Wayne County commissioners on Jan. 6 approved a staffing and operations package for the county’s emergency medical services that county staff said will add new positions and a separate 12‑hour transport unit intended to generate revenue.
County staff presented three options; the board voted to approve “Option A,” which staff said would allow hiring eight new positions and would cover additional supervisory positions the presenter requested. The presenter said the option came with an estimated price tag of $610,000.
The county's presentation stressed two goals: reduce overtime and fatigue among EMS crews and create a 12‑hour transfer/transport unit to perform non‑911 interfacility transfers. “Option A will allow me to hire 8 new positions, to help cut down on overtime, help cut down on the needs of our staff,” the presenter said. He told commissioners the separate 12‑hour “revenue truck” would not run 24 hours and would primarily operate daytime hours to handle transfers and backups for 911 calls.
The presenter also described revenue offsets tied to the new transport unit, saying conservative estimates made during the work session projected the unit could generate about $1,400,000 in revenue (he said figures for the current year were not yet final). He said the revenue could help offset the $610,000 staffing cost.
Commissioners discussed schedule options for crews under the three plans. The approved Option A was described as the version that preserves the department’s current shift schedules, adds more positions (including requested supervisory roles) and, the presenter said, reduces worker fatigue more than the other options.
The board voted on the motion to adopt Option A by roll call; the clerk recorded five affirmative votes and no votes against.
Next steps noted by the presenter and commissioners included implementation details for new hires, timing tied to upcoming state staffing requirements referenced in the presentation, and tracking the revenue performance of the proposed 12‑hour transfer unit.
Why it matters: County officials said the change aims to address high overtime, reduce fatigue-related risk for crews and patients, and use transport revenue to help fund expanded staffing.
The board’s action was a formal approval to proceed with the Option A package; the presenter and county staff will return with implementation steps and schedule details.
