Cimarron council tables EMS responder pay policy, approves state grant-funded ambulance

The Village of Cimarron council on April 9 tabled consideration of a village policy to pay employees for time spent responding to ambulance calls during work hours and approved the purchase of a new Braun NW Inc. ambulance financed in part by a $200,000 state grant.

Clerk-Administrator Shawn Jeffrey said the issue arose because a village employee who volunteers for Cimarron EMS is required to use accrued leave when responding during the workday and “the employee should not be penalized by using all his accrued leave to respond.” He proposed the village pay the employee’s hourly wage for response time. The council did not adopt the policy immediately and voted to table the matter until the ambulance board meets; the governing body said it will consider a resolution at a future meeting.

EMS Director Nate Lay told the council that Cimarron’s ambulance service is entirely volunteer and warned that charging outside entities for responses would conflict with the existing memorandum of understanding. According to the minutes, Lay said the service is “licensed to respond countywide” under the MOU and that “charging each entity would violate the agreement.”

Also on the agenda, the council approved the purchase of a new Braun NW Inc. ambulance. Lay said the purchase is being funded in part by a $200,000 state grant plus EMS funds; Councilor Ernie LeDoux moved to approve the purchase and the motion passed unanimously (4-0).

Next steps: the EMS responder pay policy will be revisited after the ambulance/ambulance board meets; the ambulance purchase was approved and will proceed under the grant and EMS funding described at the meeting.