In an effort to recruit new Emergency Medical Services personnel, the Bradley County Commission's Emergency Services Committee is recommending to offer a $5,000 bonus for new employees. The suggestion arose when discussion of the 2019-20 budget touched on employee turnover and 10 open positions in the county’s ambulance service.
Committee Chairman Mike Hughes asked if there are plans to purchase another convalescent transport van. Shawn Fairbanks, Bradley County’s fire chief and EMS director, said he is not planning to because he has no personnel to operate it. "We have roughly 10 openings," Fairbanks said, adding EMS has hovered around 10 to 12 openings "for eight months or more. "Fairbanks said competition from private EMS services — higher base salaries and sign-on bonuses — drew some employees away. Some employees who left have asked to come back, and Fairbanks said some have been allowed to, while others have not.