Clark County could get hit with nearly $186,000 in additional EMS expenses if the city moves ahead to hire six more people at Winchester Fire-EMS.

Adding staff at the department was left out of the city’s budget this year because of the expense, but last week, City Commissioner JoEllen Reed made a motion to hire six additional personnel with the goal of adding a fourth ambulance.

The county is responsible for 45 percent of any EMS budget deficits by agreement, as the department provides EMS services for all of Clark County.

Wednesday, Winchester City Manager Matt Belcher told the court the department’s run volume continues to increase from both emergency calls and hospital transfers.

“Those demands are not getting any less,” he said. “They are growing. When we’re short of staff, we cant’t meet those needs.”

Winchester Fire-EMS Chief Cathy Rigney said previously the department was short six personnel, prior to four new recruits being hired last week.

A memo from Rigney to Belcher said adding six new employees would cost at least $413,000 in salaries and benefits. The city would be responsible for $227,249, while the county’s share would be $185,931, according to the memo.

“It’s a big if,” Belcher said. “We’re going to try to fill those positions.”

Being fully staffed could allow the department to take more transfer calls from Clark Regional Medical Center and generate additional revenue.

“That is potential money,” Rigney said. “I can’t guarantee it.”

“All in all, I don’t think this fixes the whole problem,” Magistrate Daniel Konstantopoulos said.

“If its costing us $200,000 to make $100,000…”

CRMC CEO Aphreikah DuHaney-West said Winchester Fire-EMS has taken 45 percent of the hospital’s transfers since the beginning of the year. In one recent example, she said there was a patient who needed a transfer at 11 p.m. After one hour and 26 phone calls, they finally found an ambulance to take the run.

“It’s about life or death,” DuHaney-West said. “We have really good service from our EMS provider here.”

Rigney said they can’t possibly take all the transfers from CRMC, but additional staff would help in all areas.

“The needs of the community are what need to be met,” she said. “We are meeting it but we are struggling to meet it. We need staff.”

Some of the fiscal court members were not convinced, though.

“I have a hard time seeing how this will help us long-term,” Magistrate Chris Davis said. The city’s vote did not address salaries, he said, and wondered if contracting with a private ambulance service for transfers might be an answer, as well as renegotiating the agreement over EMS expenses.

Davis also said there should have been a discussion prior to motions being made.

“To me, that’s not how you treat partners,” he said. “I’m very disturbed.”

In other action Wednesday, the court:

— approved the fiscal year 2019 treasurer’s settlement.

— heard a presentation from Harry Enoch about creating an African American Heritage Trail in Clark County. The court voted unanimously to place one sign behind the courthouse.

— approved 5-1 the second reading of an ordinance to create the Winchester-Clark County Active Transportation Committee. Davis voted no.

— approved the first reading of an ordinance to update fee collection for the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

— hired Deana Pack as an administrative assistant in the judge-executive’s office.

— hired Mary McLemore as an administrative assistant for the road department with a 5-1 vote. Magistrate Travis Thompson cast the dissenting vote.

— accepted a bid of $32,300 from Laymor Paving to repair culvert crossings on Spring Valley, Old Ruckerville and Rockwell roads.

— accepted a bid of $106,750.02 from Whayne Supply for a skid-steer for the road department.