County examines EMS shift change to fill vacancies; fairgrounds 'Black Building' eyed for major grant-funded upgrades

Speaker 4 reported four vacant EMS positions and presented a recruitment plan that would change shifts from 24/48 to 24/72. He said some paramedics have given verbal commitments to come if the county adopts the 24/72 schedule; implementing the change will require modest budget increases and possibly an additional ambulance truck.

Separately, staff described long‑standing maintenance needs at the fairgrounds’ 'Black Building' — missing boards, uninsulated roll‑up doors and inadequate insulation that caused heat loss during emergency sheltering. Speaker 2 said Appalachian State University and regional partners have discussed a grant opportunity (discussed in the meeting as roughly $10,000,000) to fund community‑focused improvements, but the application would require strong community‑college involvement.

Board members asked staff to assess costs for Black Building repairs, identify grant partners, and include EMS staffing shift and vehicle costs in the upcoming budget process. No vote was taken; staff will return with cost estimates and a plan for grant participation.