EMT class may be on again at Peabody
Mayors representing cities within Marion County addressed Marion County Commission Monday regarding emergency medical technician training in the county.
Delores Dalke, mayor of Hillsboro, said the mayors met two or three weeks ago. At the meeting, the mayors said they were concerned about the number of EMTs in the communities, particularly during daytime hours when most people are working full-time jobs.
Dalke asked the commission to clarify when and where the classes will be held and the cost.
Commissioner Howard Collett said the planning of classes is up to the county emergency medical services director, Darryl Thiesen.
County clerk Carol Maggard reported liability and malpractice insurance was not available for non-county employees to teach the class.
JoAnn Knak, former EMS director and EMT instructor, said she had checked with the county's insurance agent regarding insurance but was not given a quote in time for Monday's meeting.
Knak said she was more concerned about the students being covered, since the students are covered under the county's insurance through the county-employed instructor.
Larry Larsen of Peabody said there are 14 people from Peabody interested in taking a class.
"The City of Peabody is willing to pay the class tuition for Peabody residents," Larsen said. After Peabody residents have a chance to enroll, enrollment will be available to other county residents.
Knak added there may be eight interested in a class from the Florence area.
Commission chairman Leroy Wetta said the county needed to move forward with both classes.
Collett asked if county equipment would be used for the Peabody class. Knak said she could get other equipment if needed.
Wetta asked if involvement from the EMS director would allow Knak to be on the county's insurance. Wetta asked Knak and Thiesen if they were willing to work together to which they both responded "yes."
Maggard was instructed to contact the county's insurance carrier.
Richard Nikkel of The Insurance Center, Hillsboro, spoke to the group via telephone conference. Nikkel verified the company's policy regarding insurance coverage only being for county employees.
"The county has a policy for ambulance personnel (EMTs) for malpractice," Nikkel said, "and a 'linebacker' or errors and omissions policy for all county employees."
Wetta asked Nikkel if Knak was hired as a part-time employee at less than 1,000 hours per year, would she qualify for the county's insurance coverage as an instructor. Nikkel said he was not sure if there was stipulation regarding full-time and part-time employees and would have to research the question.
Thiesen asked if Knak would be covered if she was appointed by the EMS director. Nikkel said no.
Rose Funk, deputy county clerk, said she was confused why a second instructor was being considered.
"We have an EMS director who was hired to teach classes," Funk said. She asked when Thiesen was planning to teach a class. Thiesen responded in September.
Thiesen stated class size would be limited to no more than 20 students. He currently has approximately 40 residents interested in EMT classes.
Funk said she knows that EMT classes may start large but often times the class size is reduced due to students quitting the class for various reasons.
Larsen said the idea was brought before the commission because he understood from Thiesen that Peabody was going to be excluded from the EMT class he was teaching. Thiesen said that was a misunderstanding.
"Darryl can't teach a class right now anyway because he's not accredited," Larsen said. Thiesen responded he could teach a class once specific documentation was sent to the state for approval.
Collett said his concern still was the possibility of the classes overlapping, adding he was not opposed to a joint teaching effort.
Thiesen said there needs to be a joint effort and he appreciated Knak's experience from which to draw.
Collett asked if there was any other agenda he was not aware of because he did not want to take action without knowing all of the facts.
Larsen said his goal was to have an EMT class in Peabody.
"My goal at all times is to have a class in Peabody with JoAnn teaching the class," said Larsen, adding he had asked "Darryl if it was OK for JoAnn to teach a class and he said it was OK.
"Darryl and I have had misunderstandings but I'm here to get new people trained," Larsen said.
Maggard was instructed by the commission to contact Nikkel and determine Knak's eligibility for the county's insurance as a part-time employee for the next meeting.
Peabody mayor Randy Dallke asked Thiesen about a situation involving Peabody EMT radios. Thiesen said Peabody EMT personnel were instructed to bring radios to Marion for programming. They chose to have the radios programmed elsewhere and the county did not approve payment.
Candidate forum
will be July 22
The public is invited to a candidate forum at 7 p.m. July 22 at Hillsboro Scout House on Memorial Drive.
Marion County Republican Women will sponsor the forum with candidates having the opportunity to address the public.
The primary election will be held Aug. 2 with voters deciding the next Marion County commissioner for district two which includes the city of Marion.
