Cole County EMS working to fill 7 open paramedic positions

Cole County leaders said Wednesday they are reviewing applications and have new hires in the training process for 11 open positions at the emergency medical services department.

“We’ve had more applicants for open positions probably than in the last five or six months,” said presiding commissioner Sam Bushman. “There’s people that want to come to work for us now. I think that’s great.”

The string of open positions comes after three longtime employees were let go, followed by four resignations.

Brody Eller, who worked as a part-time paramedic at Cole County EMS since November 2013, submitted his resignation letter in April after the layoffs.

“The direction Cole County EMS has been heading for the past year has just made it extremely hard to continue employment there,” Eller said. “They’ve gotten rid of a lot of employees with a lot of experience that has kind of been a crucial founding block of making Cole County EMS what it once was.”

EMS Director Jerry Johnston said four paramedic positions became open in January after the agency switched from 24-hour shifts to 12-hour shifts.

“What we underestimated was the fact that most paramedics, at least in the mid-Missouri area, prefer 24-hour shifts over 12,” Johnston said.

Johnston said he anticipates filling open paramedic positions in the next couple of weeks. Despite the vacancies, Johnston said ambulances remain fully staffed with at least one paramedic, thanks to employees picking up extra shifts and supervisors filling in.

“Our supervisors have always staffed ambulances off and on,” he said. “That’s not a new phenomenon here. The public should see no change in service, no change in response time.”

This week, current employees are exploring the possibility of either joining the Lake Area or Jefferson City firefighter unions or forming their own.

Eller, who is also a member of the Lake Area IAFF, said it’s important employees understand their rights, as well as the pros and cons to unionizing.

“I want to see the best for Cole County EMS,” he said. “I want to see the best for its employees and the citizens that Cole County EMS serves and protects.”

Eller said employees may start the voting process next week. He said it needs a 50 percent vote to start the unionizing process.

“If it happens, it happens,” Bushman said. “To me, that’s not the main concern. I still want to take care of our citizens in Cole County and that’s my main concern.”

Johnston said the employees have the right to unionize.

“We’re going to do what we think we need to do to make sure public safety is not compromised and I believe that we have done that,” he said. “Whether or not we have the unionized workforce, to me, doesn’t matter. We’ll continue to meet that mission either way.”

The commission is expected to announce the hiring of a new deputy director for Cole County EMS at the end of the week or early next week.