LVFD works to recruit EMTs

LINGLE – In an effort to recruit more emergency medical technicians, Lingle Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kasey Bangerter and Mayor George Siglin suggested a plan to allow residents to join the department as EMTs only and still receive benefits, a departure from current policy stating LVFD members must also be firefighters to earn retirement as paid by the town.
“We could make exceptions if the town wanted to pay for people’s retirements and accept EMTs only,” Bangerter said at the council meeting Wednesday. “They wouldn’t have any voting privileges in the department, but we could give them an incentive like the retirement plan.”
Siglin, who was a longtime EMT with the department, agreed.
“We are just short EMTs,” he said. “We are thinking about putting together a little campaign and sending out (flyers) with utility bills. People can be a firefighter, an EMT or both.
“We’d like to get somewhere between four and six to sign up,” Siglin said. “If we get people who want to be EMTs and go through the 180 to 200 hours of training … are going to calls, we should pay for their retirement. I don’t want to see our service go away.”
The town is responsible for $15 a month per eligible

LVFD member.

In other business:
n The council approved paying bills for January in the amount of more than $90,500.
n Police Chief Endra Moen reported she responded to 41 calls since the last regular meeting. She also attended advanced tactical knife
training recently.
n The town will begin advertising for lifeguards Feb. 14. The application deadline is March 10.
n Clerk-Treasurer Michele Sussex said the town’s financial status looks good – $59,000 ahead – but there are large expenses coming up, including the purchase of the building at 237 Main St. and payments on the new maintenance pickup.
n Maintenance Supervisor Larry Haeffelin stated the town was given a road sander which required hydraulics to be installed on the maintenance pickup. The sander includes a lift and spreader.
n The council approved the sand-volleyball court committee’s request to apply for Goshen County Recreation Board funds for a court in Whipple Park.
n Members approved Resolution No. 123: appointing maintenance assistant Jeremy Ochsner to the Wyoming Municipal Power Agency board. His term runs through 2020.
n The next council meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. at Lingle Town Hall.