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Board tables vote on $161K community paramedic pilot amid funding questions
Summary
Community Services and partner agencies pitched a one‑year community paramedic pilot to respond to mental‑health, substance‑use and low‑acuity medical calls in northern Crow Wing County. Commissioners pressed on dispatch, coverage, evaluation and long‑term funding; the board tabled funding until final contract figures are available.
Community Services staff and partners proposed a one‑year community paramedic pilot to expand co‑response for mental‑health, substance‑use and low‑acuity medical calls in northern and central Crow Wing County. The presenters said the model would pair paramedic clinical skills with social‑work supports, free ambulances for high‑acuity calls, and produce measurable outcomes (calls responded, law‑enforcement clears, connections to care). "Community paramedics are paramedics that have been on the street for at least 2 years," Maria Stevenson said while explaining training, scope and models used around the state.
Commissioners raised repeated questions about where the roughly $161,000 initial ask would come from (state/federal opioid settlement dollars and grant opportunities were discussed), whether the position can be sustained after the pilot, coverage for nights/weekends, and how dispatch triage would route calls to a nearby community paramedic. After debate a motion to approve funding was made at the table, but commissioners ultimately voted to table the funding request until North Memorial finalizes union/contract numbers and the county receives a firm cost range.
