County's emergency services to increase 2/4/2009 12:32 AM By HALEY HUGHES Staff writer
Aiken County emergency services is now hiring thanks to additional funds OK'd by Aiken County Council Tuesday.
Council unanimously approved the allocation of $218,525 in its current budget to reinstate 10 emergency services personnel cut from the budget last year when the positions sat vacant.
Council members said having that many more fully trained employees on the job will fill holes that open up when other employees call in sick or are out for other reasons.
"I think you'll see a lot of changes coming forward in emergency services," Councilman Eddie Butler said.
Still, soon after Council voted on the ordinance, Bath Water Commissioner Franklin Jackson told the governing body that "something has got to be done about the paramedics."
"In Jackson, Beech Island - there is no ambulance down there," he said.
Jackson added that he listens to a police scanner and often hears that ambulances respond from North Augusta to calls in the Silver Bluff area because a truck isn't available close by.
"Your concern is legitimate. When we pull people (to fill in for another), if someone is without service," said Councilwoman LaWana McKenzie. "What we just passed, this will fill those voids."
County Administrator Clay Killian said the County's nine ambulance stations currently work on a rotational schedule, meaning that a station closes if there is not enough staff available to man it. However, he noted that for the past two days, eight ambulances have been up and running.
"The extra staff is going to keep all nine stations running all the time," Killian said.
An advertisement is out on the open positions and County Assistant Administrator Todd Glover said there is already an applicant pool from people who applied for jobs when there were no vacancies. He believes the positions will be filled in 30 to 60 days.
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