Medic 7 paramedics decision unsettled

By Shannon Sessions

For The Herald

A verdict on what to do with Medic 7 paramedics was not reached at their latest board meeting, but homework was given to Lynnwood, Edmonds and Woodway — the cities left to govern the organization.

Board chairman and Edmonds Mayor Gary Haakenson gave the three cities a list to get done with their respective city councils no later than Feb. 21.

They still plan to have the paramedics officially moved to the fire departments by the end of March.

Many firefighters and paramedics in the audience were disappointed to learn they would have to wait at least another month for answers about their futures. Stability of the Medic 7 organization has been in question for at least a year, since Mountlake Terrace and Brier decided to withdraw for financial reasons and go on their own, officials said.

The "to do" list consisted of several issues the councils need to talk about before the Medic 7 board would act. Those issues include who would receive what assets, including vehicles, computers and more, along with money reserves, a Medic 7 memo says.

Other questions still left unanswered, such as what is the future of the Medic 7 board and how the medics will negotiate out of their contract, are also issues that the councils need to be aware of, Haakenson said.

In the meantime, city representatives Don Gough for Lynnwood and Kent Saltonstall for Woodway want to know how much more integration would cost their city.

Edmonds went from paying $732,871 in 2001 for medic service to $958,688 for 2002. Lynnwood paid $665,742 in 2001 and now will pay $907,197.

Since the withdrawal of Mountlake Terrace and Brier from Medic 7, the leftover cities have been exploring different ways to operate advanced life support services, mostly because of the increase in costs.

Within the past few months the cities have been steaming forward with their decision to integrate the 16 paramedics, known as Medic 7 for 23 years, into their fire departments. They would then be firefighter-paramedics.

Training and other transition costs, if left only to the cities, are $63,575 for Edmonds and $50,794 for Lynnwood.

Shannon Sessions is the editor of the Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace editions of the Enterprise weekly newspapers. You can call her at 425-673-6531 or email at sessions@heraldnet.com.

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