Riley County Commissioners Ron Wells, left, Marvin Rodriguez and Ben Wilson. (Staff photo by Brady Bauman)
Riley County commissioners approved pay structures for incoming EMS and ambulance positions Thursday morning after the review of a wage study by McGrath Human Resources Group.
The positions result in a wage and benefit total of $2.8 million. This compares to the county’s prepared and approved 2018 EMS/Ambulance budget of $2.2 million — an increase of $579,479.
Cindy Volanti, the county’s human resource manager and deputy clerk, said the study’s suggested wages were made after comparisons to other markets.
“You can see that within one of the tables that it is displayed that the current positions and current salaries are between 15 and 28 percent below the average market,” she told commissioners.
Before the vote, county clerk Rich Vargo told commissioners there’s a short window for deliberation.
“Time is of the essence at this point,” he said. “These people become Riley County staff members in three and a half weeks, so all of those things being recommended need to be decided. We’re dealing with people’s livelihoods and they’re wanting to know where they sit.”
Commission chairman Ron Wells expressed concern about the cost. The county had already owned the ambulances and facilities.
Earlier this year, both Riley and Pottawatomie counties learned Via Christi, who have operated the administrative side for both county’s ambulance services, announced its fees for those operations would increase $200,000 for 2018.
A month later, Riley County commissioners decided to terminate its contract with Via Christi and to instead absorb administrative duties beginning Nov. 1.
“I realize we’re short on short notice,” Wells said. “I don’t like it — I don’t like the increase in money. I don’t have a problem with (the positions), it’s just all of sudden we have a mill in additional money there, that hopefully we can recoup by doing the billing ourselves and getting away from the hospital.
“I don’t know if I’m brave enough to make the motion.”
Commissioner Marvin Rodriguez, who did make the motion, said the staff is needed and already trained. He added that it was important for wages to stay competitive in order to keep them.
Wells agreed.
“We need the employees, that’s the bottom line,” Wells said.
Commissioner Ben Wilson seconded Rodrigeuz’s motion before it passed with a 3-0 vote.
“Gentleman, you would not believe the amount of hours staff has put into this transition, and we’re far from done,” Vargo told commissioners after Thursday’s vote.
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