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Mayor's subcommittee urges keeping EMS local, recommends education and targeted staffing
Summary
A Mayor's Subcommittee report recommended preserving advanced life-support under local control while pursuing short-term staffing relief, grant writing, public education to reduce nonessential 911 use, and long-term pay and recruitment strategies to address chronic EMS call-volume pressures.
Speaker 3, a member of the Mayor's Subcommittee on emergency medical services, presented a three-month review on the city's EMS challenges and delivered a set of recommendations to the Mineral Wells City Council.
The committee, formed at the mayor's request, included 21 members drawn from citizens and local taxing entities, said Speaker 3. After surveys and meetings, the committee weighed four broad options: contract a third-party EMS provider, add supplemental ambulances, create a city-run EMS department, or submit alternate proposals. Speaker 8, a citizen member of the committee, said the group's feedback “overwhelmingly was in favor of maintaining advanced life support services ... under our own staff rather than outsourcing.”
Why it matters: EMS calls account for about 70% of the department's workload, the presenters said. The committee cited a breakdown of runs where roughly 57% were basic-life-support calls and 43% were advanced-life-support; those metrics shaped the proposals for staffing, training and education.
What the committee recommended: the report read by Speaker 8 urged (1) pursuing a Fire Control and Emergency Medical Service district tax in accordance with section 321.106 as a long-term funding path, (2) contracting a grant-writer or agent to pursue federal and state grants for equipment and vehicles, (3) launching public education and outreach to reduce unnecessary 911 calls, (4) evaluating pay to retain certified personnel, and (5) creating a targeted recruitment program potentially including out-of-state candidates and certification support. The committee explicitly framed a third-party provider as a short-term or interim option to relieve workload while the city builds staffing capacity.
Limitations and next steps: presenters told the council the city does not now meet the population threshold for a fire district under section 321.106 (minimum cited as about 25,000), so that path is a long-term objective. The committee also recommended staff explore partnerships with the hospital and other agencies, pursue grant opportunities and return to council with implementation steps. Speaker 3 asked council to give staff direction to begin those follow-ups and to provide community updates on progress.
Council discussion noted workforce strain and mental-health needs among EMTs and firefighters; Speaker 7 said volunteer chaplain Cliff Spain currently provides support but urged formal wellness programs. The committee and council agreed that any move to contract outside EMS providers would still require the city to retain its fire department and budget for fire services.
The presentation concluded with a request that staff and the committee meet soon to prioritize items that can be advanced for council action.
