On a split 4-1 vote, the Washington County Board of Supervisors approved a pay rate for ambulance staff called in when a third crew is needed. Ambulance Services Director Jeremy Peck explained his proposal, “So, what we’re asking for today is that our staff, according to the county handbook currently would get paid two hours of regular time when they get called in. We’re asking for them to get paid time-and-a-half when they come in. Currently, the staff is willing to be on call for volunteer. So that 16 hours if they don’t get called in, they don’t make a penny. If they do get called in they get the what we’re asking for is time-and-a-half for two hours.” Staff members are scheduled to be on call.

Peck said that in July there were 256 calls for service and of those 13 were third-unit calls. The total billing for those 13 calls was $9,418 and it cost the county under $800. This would be a minimum of time and a half for the two hours, and then regular pay after those two hours. If the employee is already at 40 hours for the week then they’ll be paid time and a half.

The Washington County Ambulance Service began its operations July 1st. The private company the county contracted ambulance services with before paid $7 per hour when on call.