Burkeville MOU would make town employer of EMS staff; board and chiefs discuss funding and oversight

County supervisors and Burkeville town officials spent extensive time reviewing a proposed memorandum of understanding under which the town would employ EMS personnel and administer payroll and benefits while the fire department (and its chief) would retain operational direction.

Mayor and fire/EMS chiefs outlined a plan for the town to receive county funding for full-time staffing and to process payroll through a town account established for that purpose. Chief Welch said billing for ambulance runs would continue to be processed by the Burkeville Volunteer Fire Department and that billing revenue would remain available to the department for supplies and equipment.

The county's proposed contribution figures were discussed in general terms; Chief Welch referenced an existing EMS allocation of roughly $95,050 and a staffing request figure cited in the discussion of about $44,500 per month. Board members and finance staff said they need a full budget review and quarterly reporting to reconcile payroll and billing recovery and to avoid inadvertent funding shortfalls.

Supervisors asked for quarterly reviews and said the finance committee should examine the MOU, its budgetary impact and audit implications. The board will consider any formal allocation during the February budget package when both the county's and the departments' budget requests are presented.

No final appropriation was approved at the meeting; parties agreed to continue discussions and prepare documentation for the board's budget deliberations.