Paramedic issues hashed out at Commissioner's meeting
EMS director refuses to go on runs
Cathy May - Contributing Writer

"That is not going to happen. I am no longer going to be a paramedic." This was the response of Scott Melling, Ripley County EMS Director, when Bob Reiners of the Ripley County Commissioners requested, "We are short a paramedic now, we would like you to work the same as the other paramedics."

Melling stated he was hired as an administrator, not a street person. When asked, Melling said the duties of the EMS Director could be part-time at this point, about 20 hours per week. Melling also said he had only been on two runs in July.

There was a lot of concern about Melling moving out of the state. Reiners said, "How do we get a hold of you when you are living so far away and there is an emergency? 911 tells us that the medics have missed 50 runs since you parked the truck. We are trying to keep the paramedic system afloat. We are concerned
about you leaving the state and feel it will make it more difficult with Council to fund the paramedic program."

Melling accused a Ripley County Council member of stalking him, saying he was seen peeping in the windows to see if he was working. Melling presented the Commissioners with a written memorandum on
the number of hours he worked in the past few weeks stating, "It has come to my attention through many sources, both reliable and rumored, that the Commissioners and some Council members have taken issue with the amount of time I have been dedicating to Ripley County recently."

"Since the announcement of my choice to relocate, I have been the subject of countless slanderous remarks and character attacks. None of which are deserved. My decision to move my family close to my wife's employment is nobody's business. There are no documented violations of the employee manual as there are no residency requirements listed, nor was residency a stipulation of employment when I was hired. I have always been candid with the Commissioners and Council with my opinion and have not kept secrets. It is my intention to continue commuting from the Cincinnati area to Ripley County."

"In regards to the amount of time spent in Ripley County since the move, obviously I must remind the Commissioners of my announcement at the June 20 Commissioners meeting about my intent to take vacation time over the following three weeks. I also advised you at that time that I would come to the office as necessary to continue payroll, claims, and other tasks. Since many of the accusations surround the previous five weeks time, listed below are the hours worked versus hours of vacation taken."

"Week of June 26: 25.5 hours worked, 14.5 vacation; week of July 3: 21.5 hours worked, 18.5 vacation; week of July 10: 13 hours worked, 27 vacation; week of July 17: 37 hours worked, 3 vacation; and week of July 24: 57.5 hours worked." Melling stated that he had worked some from home to have access to a printer. (The EMS building was hit by lightning and some of the equipment was damaged.)

The issue of billing receipts was discussed by Melling and the Commissioners. Last year $187,216 was collected for the four rescue units. Out of that, the billing company gets 10% and the county received $26,000.

During the first six months of 2005, $364,094 was received with $25,803 going to the county.

Melling said, "We need more accountability from the squads. They should have to prepare a budget and show what they are doing with the money. This is more money than they've ever seen. Now that they have it, they won't pay it out."

Melling had previously proposed a per call fee by the paramedics back to the rescue units.

Commissioner Reiners proposed meeting with the head of each rescue unit before the Ripley County Council meeting on August 16. Reiners stated, "I can't say at this point in time what is going to happen to the (paramedic) system."