CALHOUN EMS Calhoun EMS Workers Outraged Over County Commission's Proposal
Reported by: Bethany Simmons
Web Producer: Bethany Simmons
Also Contributing: Elizabeth Noreika
Reported: Oct. 11, 2012 9:08 AM EDT
Updated: Oct. 11, 2012 10:23 AM EDT
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Grantsville
, Calhoun County
, West Virginia
A battle is brewing in Calhoun County between the local EMS and the county commission.
The Calhoun County Commission met Wednesday morning to discuss the possibility of a local hospital taking over the local EMS, but the EMS workers said they think that move would be bad for the area.
The county commission is working on a proposal that would have the Minnie Hamilton Medical Service in Grantsville absorb local EMS operations. County officials said it is their job to make sure there is ambulance coverage in the county, and they believe the current service is questionable due to past financial problems. EMS workers said they are able to run calls and pay bills and believe the proposal would be bad for the community.
“We are not sure what we've done or what the commissions thoughts are, and we are just upset about losing our jobs. It's a rough situation," Danny May with Calhoun EMS said.
Calhoun EMS worker Jeff Jeffers said it is a shame “we have to beg” to serve the community. “We have been serving the community since 1991 with minor problems, no major that I'm aware of,” Jeffers said.
The current EMS has 20 employees and four ambulances. The Calhoun County Commission will vote on the proposal Nov. 14.
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Bethany Simmons
