Most runs go to KDMC

Staff at the Lawrence County EMS is getting a 30-cent an hour raise following the rate hike approval by the Lawrence County Commission.

The six salaried managers are also getting an equivalent raise. This is the first raise for the EMS in the past 21 months. The new rate was effective Feb. 28.

The rate for using the service has gone up 5 cents an hour.

In February there were 815 runs with 30 percent of them going to King’s Daughters Medical Center or 244 runs.

The next highest went to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington or 175 runs. The least number of runs was 1 percent going to Huntington Veterans Affairs Hospital and second smallest number went to St. Mary’s Ironton Campus at 4 percent or 36 runs.

Also at their regular Thursday meeting commissioners heard a report from county treasurer Stephen Burcham that first half tax collections are up approximately $1.5 million over year to date coming in at $12.1 million.

First half collections for 2015 totaled $19.5 million.

“There are a lot of escrow companies that have not remitted their taxes,” Burcham said.

Taxes are due today and can be paid online up to midnight. They can also be paid in person at the courthouse or at Citizens Deposit, Liberty, City National and U.S. Bank. If paid by mail, the envelope must be postmarked midnight tonight.

In other action the commission:

• Hired Matt Horne and Raymond Joe Charland as a full-time paramedics;

• Hired Chad Sansom, Jessica Griffith, Justin Hammonds and Steve Rigsby for EMTs.

• Approved a housing contract for the jail with Knox County for $50 a day per person;

• Approved a consulting agreement with E.L. Robinson Engineering for emergency landslide repair project on County Road 5 for $30,000.