WASHINGTON

In a report about operating a permanent third shift for the Washington County Ambulance Services, Katrina Altenhofen, department interim director, in a Nov. 28 work session with the supervisors made a clear case for why a permanent six-member third shift crew is needed. Generally, there would be three on duty with three on call, a move that would, in essence, assure 24/7 coverage for the county.

The special Third Shift Report covered all aspects of calls, transports, non-transports but aid provided, for each day of the month of October, complete with hours and costs.

A third shift would follow the current department pay scale that, depending on the level (one to five) and classification (EMT, AWMT, Paramedic or field supervisor) ranges hourly from $24.44 at level one up to $33.25, and from $30.34 to $41.56 for level five. Currently, in monetary terms that’s $51,812.80 for an EMT up to $70,278 for a field supervisor annually at level one. At level five, it is $64,320.80 to $88,107.20. Ranges are comparable to similar departments in the state.

During the discussion, it was noted more than once that a regular third shift is more cost efficient than having a mandatory overtime policy, passed at the Nov. 1 meeting as a “temporary” measure. At that time there also had been discussion about competing with other county departments, hospitals and medical clinics for trained personnel.

Supervisor Stan Stoops said, “This board has been criticized for the amount of spending it has done,” adding funds “were spent in order to keep folks in this county safe.” To maintain that goal, “We’re going to spend more money, we’re going to have to,” he said, in order to meet that commitment to county residents.

A second concern was space needs for the third crew, but after the meeting Supervisor Jack Seward, Jr. told The News that the county has space in its existing buildings and that a permanent third shift could be in operation in spring 2024.

Because it was a work session, no board action could be taken; however, it was set for further discussion and possible action on the Dec. 5 regular meeting agenda. The session starts at 9 a.m. in the supervisors’ office in the courthouse.