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Eveleth council accepts OEM emergency-services grant, staff to present EMT wage proposal Feb. 2
Summary
Council accepted an OEM service grant described as just under $74,000 to fund training, equipment and other EMS needs; staff said they will return Feb. 2 with a recommendation on raising EMT hourly rates and a multi-year plan for sustaining changes.
The Eveleth City Council voted on Jan. 21 to accept an Office of Emergency Medical (OEM) service grant the meeting described as "just shy of $74,000," a package city staff said is designed to address local emergency-medical-service deficits.
City Administrator Pat outlined the grant as a multi-part opportunity to benchmark regional EMS pay and training, pay for vehicle maintenance and medical supplies, and pilot higher hourly rates for EMTs. "One of the things that we would propose is to increase that hourly rate," Pat said, adding that staff will return to the council on Feb. 2 with a specific wage proposal for formal consideration.
Theresa, identified in the meeting as the emergency-management supervisor, joined staff remarks on the grant’s goals for cross-training, education and equipment. Mayor Rowan said the measure would ease local concerns about EMT compensation and praised the grant’s potential to fund longer-term improvements if renewed; staff said the grant may be available to the city for up to five years subject to annual approval.
Council discussion was broadly supportive; one member noted an abstention during the vote (recorded in the meeting as "abstaining to be safe"), and the motion carried. The council did not adopt any wage changes at the Jan. 21 meeting — the formal decision on pay would come after staff presents a proposal.
Next steps: staff will return Feb. 2 with a drafted pay proposal and an implementation plan for grant-funded training and equipment purchases.
