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McCormick County emergency services cites staffing gaps, aims to restore station coverage
Summary
County emergency services told council it has five full-time vacancies and limited use of Station 3; staff expect to have Station 3 staffed about 90% of the time within 2–3 weeks and are pursuing license renewals and grants to support operations.
McCormick County Emergency Services told the County Council on Aug. 20 that the department is operating well below its authorized staffing levels and is relying on part-time personnel while it works to recruit full-time employees.
Director Jason Brown said the service is funded for 18 full-time positions across three shifts but currently has five full-time vacancies — two paramedic slots and three EMT basic/advanced positions. He said part-time staff and recent recruitment efforts should allow Medic/Station 3 to be staffed about 90% of the time within two to three weeks.
Brown reported that nearly all vehicles are in service; Unit 1 is at a vendor for warranty repairs at no cost to the county. He also described recent training: seven full-time employees attended a firefighter I instructor methodology class, and five were known to have passed the IFSAC exam required for instruction.
On licensure and compliance, Brown said the county’s advanced life support service license has been in place since Sept. 15, 2022, and that the county’s service application is due 09/30/2024 and will be submitted by the end of that week. He said continuing paramedic education credentials issued 05/06/2024 remain valid through 09/30/2028. Brown noted that the county’s controlled-substance registration renewal (Department of Drug Control) expires 10/10/2024 and that a renewal application had been prepared and would be mailed.
Brown told council he is monitoring a water leak at the South Tower that houses repeater equipment and outlined two options: repair the entire roof or build a protective structure outside the building to keep equipment dry.
He also summarized recent grant activity: LEMPG closeout on Aug. 19 with an expected reimbursement of $53,307, a supplemental closeout with $14,000 expected, and a pending LEMPG 2024 application with an anticipated award of about $49,001. Council members asked about recruitment methods; Brown said the department has used word-of-mouth, social media and statewide EMS associations to recruit candidates.
The council thanked Brown for the update and encouraged ongoing hiring and training work. The department did not report a new timeline for filling all vacancies beyond the 2–3 week expectation for improving Station 3 coverage.
