Celina Hires EMS Worker, Aldermen To Work On Incentives To Attract More

Celina has made progress in addressing its EMS worker shortage with a full-time paramedic returning to the department.

Aldermen Kenny Westmoreland said while the addition will make a difference, the Board of Aldermen still seeks more candidates.

“Trust me, this is something that is of great concern to us,” Westmoreland said. “We have a meeting planned next Tuesday night also to address this and see where we stand from that point moving forward.”

Westmoreland said incentives to attract more EMS employees would be the center of discussions. Westmoreland said experienced emergency workers in the county are also invited to share ideas.

Aldermen Winton Dillon said he is working on the budget numbers to see where improvements can be made. Dillon said he shares the same goal of rebuilding the department.

“I don’t want the people at the ambulance service to feel like they are going to lose their job,” Dillon said. “As long as I got any say about it, they are not going to lose it. I just got to sit down, work with the numbers I can can come up with and then present it to the mayor.”

Westmoreland said the newly hired paramedic has worked for Celina in the past. Westmoreland said their training is already complete, so the hire will be able to step straight into the job once paper work is complete.