The Starke County Council members approved funding for two Lifepak 15 cardiac monitors during their meeting Monday night.
The commissioners deemed the purchase as an emergency during their March 5 meeting after EMS Director Travis Clary reported that two decades-old devices recently quit working. That left the county with no backup devices. To ensure that each ambulance had a working device with spares, the emergency purchase was made. Clary told the county council members Monday night that the devices arrived earlier in the day.
The Starke County Council members will consider the approval of a job description for a shift supervisor for the Starke County EMS Department when they meet tonight. EMS Director Travis Clary requested support from the commissioners for the four paramedics to oversee operations while he is unable to do so. A $.25 or a $.50 increase for those assuming those duties will also be considered. The council will also determine how to fund two cardiac monitors that were deemed an emergency purchase by commissioners earlier this month. The cost is just over $42,000.
There are two new full-time paramedics on staff with the Starke County EMS Department.
The Starke County EMS staff is trying out a new program that acts as a live radio streaming device, according to EMS Director Travis Clary.
The Starke County Commissioners will meet tonight where Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin will discuss a job description for a part-time employee and request approval of a third K9 for the department. The job description was discussed with the Starke County Council members in January after they learned an employee was doing duties outside of the position for which he was hired. The job description should resolve the issue.
Starke County may soon have two more paramedics on staff.
The Starke County EMS Department is working to get the heat installed at the Grovertown EMS base.
The Starke County Commissioners will meet tonight after last week’s regular meeting was postponed. The commissioners still plan to hold public discussion tonight on the proposed move of the Dollar General Store to the eastern corner of 200 South and U.S. 35 just south of Knox.
Update: Tonight’s Starke County Commissioners meeting has been rescheduled due to cold weather. Auditor Kay Chaffins says it will now be held Monday, January 8 at 6:00 p.m.
Starke County EMS Clerk Mary Lynn Ritchie informed the commissioners Monday night that the number of ambulance transfers is increasing.
The Starke County Commissioners remain concerned about the number of transfers by Starke County EMS personnel.
Starke County EMS is losing ambulance transfers to another ambulance service which has caused a reduction in revenue for the county.
Starke County EMS Director Travis Clary presented ambulance transfer figures to the county commissioners Monday night and the numbers caused concern.
