Moorcroft considers EMT future

A "KARE" contract is an agreement between an ambulance service, including EMTs and other emergency medical personnel, and an entity such as, in this instance, the Town of Moorcroft for financial compensation. Brad and Lexi McKee introduced the possibility of this type of agreement to Moorcroft's council at last Wednesday's meeting.

This contract can be modified to the degree necessary for both parties to an extent, but the overall picture includes changing the volunteer position into that of an employee, increasing the cost to the municipality of payroll packs, insurance, workman's comp, unemployment and so on. Essentially, it makes the responders employees of the town.

When the couple finished their initial proposal, Pat Carpenter, Moorcroft's attorney, lined out the situation for those involved: "Council has to decide if they want to enter into a contract with this group first and, assuming you do..., you, ultimately, would make the decision whether or not these are compensated positions."

The town currently pays workman's comp on active volunteers. Clerk/Treasurer Cheryl Schneider explained how Moorcroft's policies currently work with the medical first responders.

Carpenter advised her to stop though, saying, "The whole employment situation creates some weird dynamics so we need to verify that."

The town also pays into state retirement if the volunteer meets the requirements.

The lawyer advised care in moving forward, saying, "You need to understand what this is going to cost you fully if you do decide to compensate these positions...These are decisions you don't have to make tonight, but something you should consider and I think once you've had a chance to work with this group and decide what, if anything, sounds good to you, and once you've got a dollar figure in mind, Cheryl can take that and create a spreadsheet for you so you can see exactly what that will cost you... We don't want to jump into this until we have the rest of those answers."

He suggested that the council and the group employ subsequent conversations, laying the "structure [of the agreement] out to see what it's going to look like".

Such a scenario will not inhibit the 911 response and patients will still be transported to the nearest appropriate medical facility, etc.

Mayor Ben Glenn admitted this will become widespread eventually and, with further conversation, the body chose to put the question of a 90-day trial on the agenda.

The trial was later approved. Glenn opined, "For years, we've heard 'pay it – pay it', here's our opportunity."

The attorney and Schneider will draft an agreement for the trial period.