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The county also will have a new county administrator on June 30.

The Board of Supervisors voted 6-0 at its Friday special called meeting to give temporary operational control of SCLC to the EMS Association’s President Roger Carter and Vice President Wendell Burke.

Acting County Administrator Bill Dingus recommended the board take action after learning of “declining operations� by SCLC between February and May. Dingus told the board that led to three straight weekends in April and May where SCLC “had no available crews during weekends.�

“It’s an urgent situation we find ourselves in now,� said Dingus. “We want to extend our appreciation for all the EMS crews in the county.�

Dingus said the EMS Association and county has worked with SCLC since February to correct the issues.

“We’ve come to a point where we think this action is necessary to shore up what we have in the county,� said Dingus, “and make sure that the good work of the Scott County Lifesaving Crew in Gate City that has served for the last 50 years continues as a sustainable institution.�

New SCLC Capt. David Gillam told the board how the organization’s staffing has dropped to one full-time member and five part-time crew members. Under current staffing, SCLC has not been able to cover night or weekend calls.

Dingus told Gillam that the county does not want to replace the current SCLS board, seize assets or see the organization lose its 501c(3) nonprofit status.

“We hope we have cooperation with your board and strength from your board going forward,� said Dingus. “This will allow (the EMS Association) to restructure and stabilize the squad until it can be restored as a fully functional and sustainable unit.�

Gillam and Burke – assistant chief of Nickelsville Fire and Rescue – each said that maintaining qualified staff has been a challenge as private ambulance services in the area offer higher starting wage rates for EMTs and staffers than volunteer organizations can.

Gillam said SCLC has had a hard time finding willing community volunteers because of the time commitment and lower wages compared to private services.

“We pay $14 an hour starting pay,� Gillam said.

“Some private ambulance services start at $21 and hour,� Dingus said, adding later that Gillam “has given his best effort� and is supportive of the proposed takeover.

Burke said the Nickelsville unit has started offering insurance coverage to its staff, but that increases operation costs.

District 2 Supervisor Michele Glover read a message from a resident who stated a family member had overturned their lawn mower. Their call for 911 resulted in a long wait for an ambulance, although the Hiltons Volunteer Fire Department was on the scene soon after the accident and Nickelsville EMS did arrive to transport the person.

Dingus said the lack of SCLC coverage in recent weeks has also been stressful on county dispatchers trying to locate available EMS service.

“This is not going to be a light switch,� Dingus said of the recommended takeover. “It may get a little worse before it gets better.�

“We hope that the (SCLC) board works with us,� said Burke. “We need them to work with us.�

Burke said training classes for EMS crews to keep their state certifications are also expensive and often offered at sites distant from their communities. While the county budgets approximately $300,000 for EMS salary and operational support, he said the county EMS agencies need to see another $100,000 to start improving pay.

County resident Wendy Blodgett told the board that EMS personnel need better pay.

“These people have to work for a living,� said Blodgett. “These people have to be able to make more than the people handing you your cheddar rounds.�

New administrator

After a 12-minute closed session, the board returned to approve a job offer to Buffalo Falls, Minnesota Town Manager Joshua Wilson as the new county administrator effective June 30.

Supervisor Chair Chris Maness said Wilson – a Scott County native – was one of four applicants interviewed for the position two months after former administrator Freda Starnes gave her resignation.

Maness said Dingus will remain as assistant county administrator.

“With Wilson and Dingus, I think we’ve got a good top-level team for our county,� said Maness.