Celina EMS Director Steps Down, Staffing Issues Continue

Celina EMS Director Jason Emerton has stepped down from his position.

Paramedic Andy Hall has taken over as interim director. Some other EMS workers also transferred after Emerton’s move, so Hall said he plans to bring up the staffing issue during Tuesday’s Celina Board of Aldermen meeting.

“Basically, let them know what we are looking at and try to come up with some plan on how to get more employees here and stuff,” Hall said. “Right now, it is a shortage with everybody, so not only are we hurting, but a bunch of counties around us are hurting.”

Hall said the department has been short on employees for many years. But just of recent, Hall said staffing has dwindled from 10 to six full-time workers.

“We’ve had a few transfer to greener pastures I guess you can say,” Hall said. “Better money at other places and stuff like that.”

Emerton was selected as director by past Mayor Tonya Spears in December to replace Natalie Boone. Hall said moving forward as interim director, the department will continue to do its best to provide ambulance services.

“Don’t look at the past, just look towards the future,” Hall said. “We’ll do the best we can with what we got right now to keep people of Clay County safe.”