Hall County officials are canceling their intended plans to shift paramedics from med units to fire trucks in an effort to maintain effective services across all county fire stations.
Instead, county firefighters will be working overtime — at a "ballpark" cost of $1,000,000 for the fiscal year — to keep staffing levels full, officials announced at a press conference Friday morning.
"It was a collective decision made by staff ... and the five elected (commissioners)," said Katie Crumley, Hall County government spokeswoman.
The canceled plan, which was to go in effect in October, would shift personnel from some of the less-utilized fire stations — specifically Station 9 (off of Ga. 60 in Gainesville), Station 11 (Murrayville) and Station 10 (Gillsville) — to the south end of the county, where more emergency medical calls were happening.
Now, firefighters can work overtime to fill those slots, instead of shifting their location, said Chief Jeff Hood.
"They're more than willing to work the overtime," said Hood. Firefighters and EMS personnel had been capped in terms of workable hours, but Hood said there are more than enough volunteers willing to work overtime and make extra money.
Residents had previously voiced their concerns over the plan, saying that there wouldn't be adequate service for the rural parts of Hall County.
“Everybody on this end of the county is just as important as people on the south and north end of the county," said Stan Clark of Gillsville at a public meeting on Tuesday in Gillsville.
Also at issue was the county's ISO (Insurance Service Offer) rating, which determine local insurance rates. Hood said they do not anticipate a change in the ISO rating, which will be re-evaluated this fall.
County commissioners initially planned to hold a formal hearing at their meeting Sep. 26, but that has since been canceled, though it's possible the topic could come up via public comment or a commissioner's request.
