Chickasaw supervisors, EMA and EMS leaders debate overtime, job structure and cross-department work

Chickasaw County officials on Feb. 2 discussed employment structures and overtime implications for staff who perform duties across multiple county divisions, including EMA and EMS responsibilities.

EMA Director Jeff Bernice told the board the EMA commission and HR counsel flagged potential federal overtime issues when employees work for multiple departments under a single employer identification number. Bernice said the EMA commission would review classification, job descriptions and possible options such as revising the EMA job description or using 9‑1‑1 funding to cover EMS-related duties.

Board members and staff noted previous local arrangements that allowed certain employees to run EMS shifts in addition to their EMA duties; questions emerged about workers’ compensation coverage, payroll reporting and overtime calculations. The EMA commission recommended each autonomous board (public health, veterans affairs, conservation, and EMA) review how they want their employees to be structured and clarified that the county board could supersede decisions if statutory or liability issues arise.

The board accepted a consensus that EMA and EMS commissions should evaluate options at their next meetings and that HR and the county attorney examine federal-labor and insurance implications. No formal policy change was adopted at the meeting; staff will return with recommendations.