Clinton County Fiscal Court held another special meeting Tuesday morning, November 18 due to a scheduling conflict with its regular meeting date on November 20.

The half-hour meeting was held in the absence of Judge/Executive Lyle Huff, who was out-of-town. Magistrate Mickey Riddle, with five court members present, chaired the meeting in the judge’s absence.

Most of the meeting centered on a discussion with Director of Emergency Services Lonnie Scott, who addressed federal legislation that is pushing for emergency services to hire more EMTA’s, or emergency service personnel that fall somewhat between an EMT and Paramedic.

The Advanced EMT, as the position is called, requires more training and a higher rate of pay than EMT’s, but less pay and training than that of a paramedic. Scott said Tennessee now employees EMTAs.

Scott also noted that the cost to train advanced EMT’s was about $1,200 and generally they are paid about a dollar more per hour than a regular EMT. However, the cost of training the new personnel would be an issue, but considering the paramedic staffing at the local EMS is short, it may help offset that shortfall by hiring advanced EMTs at a lower rate of pay.

Scott also said the department had lost three paramedics over the past several months and now has only four full-time and four part-time paramedics on staff when about six full time and eight part-time are actually needed.

“We are short of help and it all boils down to money,” said Scott. “We (Clinton County) aren’t paying what everyone else is paying,” he added. He also questioned, however, if the county could afford to put advanced EMTs through training.

Scott did note that on the positive financial side of having advanced EMTs to help offset the lack of paramedics is that ambulance runs using the EMTAs could be billed the same, about $200 more, just as if a paramedic were on board.

Director Scott said he wasn’t seeking any official actions on being able to create advanced EMT positions right at this point but did want to make the court aware of the EMS staffing shortfalls and the possible need to have that type of three-tier staffing (EMT, EMTAs and Paramedics) at the local EMS.

In other business, the court approved the treasurer’s report and cash fund transfers, and voted to pay claims and bills, including a payment for road salt.

The county has contracted with a company to supply 300 tons of salt this winter season. As of Tuesday, 25 tons had been delivered and another 25 tons was on the way this week with the remaining to be delivered throughout the coming months.

The court also held second and final reading on the ordinance establishing electrical inspection fees; voted to accept a petition and proceed with plans to close a portion of the Alvin Logan Road and voted to close out a Kentucky Office of Homeland Security grant in the amount of $27,000 for ambulance electronic equipment.

On a rare “split vote” on a closed session, the court entered into an approximate 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel which passed 3-1 (Riddle did not vote as chairman of the meeting), as Magistrates Ricky Craig, Hershell Key and Patty Guinn voted yes and Magistrate Terry Buster voted no.

No action on the personnel issue was taken upon the court’s return to open session.

The next meeting of Clinton County Fiscal Court is also scheduled as a special call meeting, to be held Friday, December 19 at 5 p.m. at the Clinton County Community Center and will preclude the county employee’s annual Christmas dinner, scheduled for 6 p.m.