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Sebastian location. Squad Chief Rosemary Cavanaugh not only manages both divisions but pulls many shifts at each of the service locations. For some reason, and there are many that are stated whether factually or not, only a small percentage of the Sebastian area populace has come forward to volunteer their time and talents to the EMS service. Hopefully, this will change as the citizens observe that the leader- ship does not intend to permit a reoccurrence of some of the past events that resulted in negative publicity for the service. In terms of anticipated additionai_staff,-..three individuals have com- pleted the required EMT training -and will take the state exam on .:uly 29, 1988. -`Four other persons have just successfully completed .he EMT training in the crash course and will take the state exam in August with results expected in September. There also exists the potential of twelve students for the planned August EMT class. While the numbers look good, it is difficult to anticipate as to how many of these individuals will actually commit to staffing a shift and how many will be able to complete the classes and pass the state board for certification. The effort put forth in this endeavor to improve staffing should not go unnoticed and reflects a genuine interest in the leadership to succeed in providing adequate staffing one hundred percent of the time. It appears that the alternatives available to the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners are as follows: 1. Renew the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the Fellsmere Volunteer Ambulance Service and allow the Fellsmere and Sebastian Divisions to continue to provide EMS BLS service to the North County area. 2. Deny the request for renewal and.assign responsibility for EMS BLS service in the North County area to the South County Fire District with funding sources to be determined if this alternative is selected. 3. Deny the request for renewal and assign responsibility for EMS BLS service in the North County area .to the Indian River. Memorial Hospital (Trustees/District) with funding sources to be determined 4. Deny the request for renewal and advertise the proposals for the private sector to provide EMS BLS service in the North County area on a fee basis. This alternative would probably include a stipend from the County to the provider selected. d RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the first alternative with the renewal predicated on continued improvement in staffing to attain the stated objective of providing personnel to crew a BLS vehicle at all times at both North County locations. It was known up front when Fellsmere took on the additional responsibility of the Sebastian service that it would take some time to train additional EMT's and drivers. Substantial improvement has been made in this regard, however, some parameters must be set as to the time frame to accomplish this objective. It will certainly have to be an on-going process since loss of staff must be anticipated on occasion due to reasons beyond the Squad Chief's control. AUG 16 BOB20 BOOK, 73 F4 ,A50 J