Dec. 09--Kerr County commissioners will again be asked to consider implementing an application process for volunteers who want to become part of the county's first responder program.
Last month, commissioners rejected the idea of creating a formal process and instead voted to recommend anyone who volunteered for the program. The program is administered through the Kerrville Fire Department and EMS program, and the program manager had asked the commissioners to consider creating an application process.
During a discussion at their last meeting, commissioners indicated they did not feel qualified to decide who should be approved for the program and said they would defer to the city's EMS coordinator to make those decisions. Commissioners also noted that they do not make hiring decisions about any other county employees and that the county does not have an application process for volunteers.
Since that meeting, City Manager Todd Parton has penned a letter directed to Commissioner Tom Moser, which has since been included in the backup material for today's meeting at the request of County Attorney Rob Henneke. In the letter, Parton states that there are significant liabilities related to the implementation of the first responder program and that a background check is a "vital step to ensuring the public health and safety are protected."
"First responders are issued expensive equipment, enter private property and provide medical treatment, often when patients are at their most vulnerable," Parton said.
Although not directly connected to the ongoing differences between the city and the county, the first responder program also has become an issue of some contention between the two like the EMS issue.
The county has contracted with a firm for help creating a request for proposals for countywide ambulance services outside the city limits.
The request for proposals is expected to be voted on by commissioners sometime early next year. The current contract between the city and the county for ambulance services outside the city expires in September.
Copyright 2013 - Kerrville Daily Times, Texas
