By Nathan Prewett
PINSON – The Pinson Council approved payroll incentives for the Palmerdale Fire District at a meeting on Thursday, Feb. 3.
Palmerdale Fire Chief Jason Howell spoke before the council, saying that a previous round of incentives that the council gave them last year has helped hire additional EMS technicians and improved the rate of transport for patients.
Howell reported that at that time, the income of EMS technicians had increased to $45,521.58 and was able to transport 502 patients as opposed to a lower number last year.
“It’s been a tremendous blessing for us,” he said. “Last year, just prior to being approved for this like everyone, we had a hard time keeping paramedics, finding paramedics, making it worthwhile for them to come work for us in the first place.”
Howell spoke to request that the council continue the incentives for another year. This would be $25,000 for three quarters of the calendar year of at least $75,000 total in city funding.
After some discussion, the council approved Howell’s request unanimously. Center Point Fire Gene Coleman then spoke to the council and said that his district will try for grants from the state in a similar effort to attract paramedic services and education.
Coleman gave his report for the month of January, saying that there were 967 calls, 382 emergency medical transports, received mutual aid 16 times, 372 runs for Fire Station 1, 236 for Fire Station, 78 for Fire Station 4, and 282 for Fire Station 5.
Coleman also announced the retirement of Battalion Chief Brad Appleton, with Craig Higginbotham to replace him.
Towards the end of the meeting, Mayor Joe Cochran mentioned the need for new construction at the local schools, saying he would like to discuss it in future meetings.
“I think we’re long overdue for some new construction,” he said. “And I think we’re also due for an awful lot of maintenance.”
In other business the council:
- Approved the purchase of two vacuum cleaners for the Rock School Center (one for $539, the other for $2,285),
- Approved the purchase of a television set for $1,505.83 for a building at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve,
- Approved the abatement of a property on Dewey Heights Road,
- Held a public hearing and approved the zoning changes for several parcels of land by Highway 79 from county to city district and
- Announced tentative Shred-it dates as Feb. 5, May 7, Aug. 6, and Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The next meeting of the Pinson City Council will be Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, at Pinson City Hall. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m., following a 6:15 p.m. work session.