The Starke County Council members will be looking at costs concerning full-time EMS staff and what the county is paying in overtime.
Starke County EMS Clerk Mary Lynn Ritchie will be putting together some figures for the council members in 2018 to compare what the county is paying in overtime versus hiring two more full-time paramedics for adequate coverage.
Director Travis Clary is still looking for part-time paramedics for the department, but it continues to be a challenge, as it is in all counties. Clary said there is no incentive for part-time staff to work so the full-time staff members usually pick up all of the holidays and most of the unfilled shifts.
Beyond that, Starke Hospital officials and county officials would also like to see more paramedics staffed on ambulances.
The council will review wages similar to the action taken when discussing sheriff’s deputy wages this summer. More discussion will be held in 2018.
