Following last week’s approval of a new county Emergency Services and Ambulance Department pay scale, the supervisors on Tuesday, Nov. 9 approved wage increases for the 31 members of the department, all effective November 3. The employees are Dakota Connolly, Steven Ebersole, Travis Handy, Josh Laws, Tanner Mingo, all ambulance DMTs, going to $20.37 hourly; Bruce Murphy, and Tonia Rebiling, also EMTs to $21.87; Doug Sanders, Craig Shetler, Nicole Stout, all EMTS, $20.87; Stephen Swaffer,  EMT, $20.37.

Also, Dan Stigers, AEMT, $24.38; Mike Feel, Melissa Kern, Jeff Lavrenz, Joshua Mohror, all paramedics, $24.38, $24.02, $23.92, $22.92, $25.87 respectively; Joan Sieren, nurse exempt, ARNP, $23.92; Connor Tarviin, Kasey Wieland, Jordan Wright, all paramedics, $33.92; Carrie Ornduff, paramedic and field supervisors, $28.12; Bret Carlson, paramedic, field supervisors, $32.03; Aaron Olson, paramedic, field supervisors, $32.03; Patrick Curl, paramedic, administrative assistant, $38.73; Angela Ballard, billing coder, $25.65; Hogan Miller, EMT, $20.87; Aimee Bujold, EMT, $20.67;  Elizabeth Duncan, EMT, $21.87; Trent Olson, EMT, $23.87 and Chris Gerlibg, field supervisors, $28.19. All are full-time. The pay scale was discussed at previous meeting prior to last week’s approval and Tuesday’s formal acceptance for the personnel.

The increase for Department director Jeremy Peck, to $48.20 hourly, was deferred to next week to allow for formal contract update.

In a related department item, Peck outlined operation of the Basic Life Support (BLS) truck unit, including projected costs of operation and revenues. This includes hiring two full-time and three part-time EMTS. In noting an estimated annual cost of $639,600 with possible full payment from federal, insurance and private payers, totaling $1,040,000, there could be an excess of $265,181, Peck explained.  He also stressed that in figuring the cost he considered that “the worst possible scenario” could happen, regarding calls for service, cost of operations and reimbursements.

He anticipated that “it will not cost the taxpayers any money within a couple of years” to operate the unit “because the revenue will offset expenses.”

With the change in the pay scale, Peck noted that the Washington department is now competitive with other services for certified personnel.

In other business, the board:

• reviewed the proposed commercial lease with Federation Bank for office space in the bank building at 110 N. Iowa Avenue for the Juvenile Court Services at $600 a month.  The detail will be reviewed by the county attorney for board action November 16;

• received and acknowledged the quarterly report from the sheriff’s department showing a cash on hand balance of $27,569.91. It was noted that it is a little less than the previous quarter, including a decrease in gun permits;

• approved two new personnel for the treasurer/motor vehicle office: Danielle Imhoff, clerk, $17.88 hourly, effective November 22 and Adrienne Gorsch, driver’s license clerk, $17.86, also effective November 22. Both are to replace retiring personnel. Treasurer Jeffrey Garrett reported that there were 60 applicants for the advertised positions, from which 15 were selected as possible hires; and

•recessed and resumed for the first-tier canvas of the November 2 city/school elections in the county.