New ambulance director hired

Sedgwick County ambulance captain Kyle Burtch was hired Monday as new director of emergency medical services.

Burtch is from Brantford, Ontario.

Although commissioners earlier had discussed the possibility of adding Kansas Police and Fireman’s Retirement benefits for EMS, firefighters, and sheriff’s deputies, they told Burtch they would review the idea later.

Chuck Kenney resigned in October, a year after he was hired to replace former director Kurt Hasart, who later lost his license. Kenney will continue to work for EMS.

Commissioners briefly discussed putting an ambulance station on land purchased just north of Peabody. They talked about the size of building that would be needed.

Peabody formerly had an ambulance station, but it was closed for lack of available staffing. Not having a station in Peabody created long waits for medical help.

In other business Monday, commissioners heard an annual report from weed and transfer station director Josh Housman, heard a measles update from health department director Krista Schneider, and met twice behind closed doors to discuss personnel performance.