Where Salem EMS stands nearly one year after almost being permanently shut down
WBOY 12 News
[{'start': '0.160', 'end': '4.319', 'text': 'Nearly a year after Salem City Council'}, {'start': '2.080', 'end': '6.879', 'text': "voted to close the city's EMS, 12 News"}, {'start': '4.319', 'end': '8.480', 'text': 'Barbara Ron checked in to see how it is'}, {'start': '6.879', 'end': '12.160', 'text': 'still serving the community and where'}, {'start': '8.480', 'end': '14.799', 'text': "the department's finances stand."}, {'start': '12.160', 'end': '17.119', 'text': 'In June of 2024, 12 News spoke with'}, {'start': '14.799', 'end': '18.800', 'text': 'Wesley Schuman mere hours after he'}, {'start': '17.119', 'end': '22.160', 'text': 'received the news that he no longer had'}, {'start': '18.800', 'end': '24.080', 'text': 'a job he loved. And now, a year later,'}, {'start': '22.160', 'end': '27.279', 'text': 'Schuman stands as the new director of'}, {'start': '24.080', 'end': '29.840', 'text': 'Salem EMS, bubbling with ideas. It was a'}, {'start': '27.279', 'end': '32.239', 'text': "bit of a surprise to myself. I didn't"}, {'start': '29.840', 'end': '34.079', 'text': 'plan on applying, but uh you know, I'}, {'start': '32.239', 'end': '35.920', 'text': "seen the opportunity arise and I've"}, {'start': '34.079', 'end': '38.399', 'text': 'always had lots of great ideas if I ever'}, {'start': '35.920', 'end': '40.719', 'text': 'became a director of anywhere, so I'}, {'start': '38.399', 'end': '43.760', 'text': "figured it'd be a perfect place to try."}, {'start': '40.719', 'end': '45.680', 'text': 'Since it reopened in late July 2024, the'}, {'start': '43.760', 'end': '47.840', 'text': 'department has had interim directors who'}, {'start': '45.680', 'end': '49.440', 'text': 'helped it get back on its feet. One of'}, {'start': '47.840', 'end': '51.280', 'text': 'the reasons for the shutdown was'}, {'start': '49.440', 'end': '53.760', 'text': 'communication breakdowns between city'}, {'start': '51.280', 'end': '55.920', 'text': 'council and the former city manager. I'}, {'start': '53.760', 'end': '58.719', 'text': 'tell you right now, you can accept my'}, {'start': '55.920', 'end': '60.399', 'text': 'resignation. Now, Mayor Brandy Garner'}, {'start': '58.719', 'end': '62.760', 'text': 'says communication between departments'}, {'start': '60.399', 'end': '65.760', 'text': "has improved. There's a lot more"}, {'start': '62.760', 'end': '68.159', 'text': 'communication it with the the council,'}, {'start': '65.760', 'end': '69.680', 'text': "so we're able to make better decisions"}, {'start': '68.159', 'end': '72.000', 'text': 'because we have all of the facts,'}, {'start': '69.680', 'end': '73.760', 'text': 'whereas before we were kind of excluded'}, {'start': '72.000', 'end': '76.400', 'text': 'from those sort of things. Currently,'}, {'start': '73.760', 'end': '78.640', 'text': 'Salem EMS is working limited hours and'}, {'start': '76.400', 'end': '80.640', 'text': 'only providing basic life support, while'}, {'start': '78.640', 'end': '83.360', 'text': 'the Dodgers County Ambulance Authority'}, {'start': '80.640', 'end': '85.840', 'text': 'and Harrison County EMS handle primary'}, {'start': '83.360', 'end': '88.960', 'text': "response during Salem's off hours."}, {'start': '85.840', 'end': '91.360', 'text': 'keeping um overtime under control, um'}, {'start': '88.960', 'end': '93.520', 'text': 'cutting back our hours, just kind of'}, {'start': '91.360', 'end': '95.520', 'text': 'making things a little bit smaller for a'}, {'start': '93.520', 'end': '97.200', 'text': 'short amount of time and then growing.'}, {'start': '95.520', 'end': '99.600', 'text': 'Uh I think that was probably one of the'}, {'start': '97.200', 'end': '101.520', 'text': 'problems is that it grew too fast and it'}, {'start': '99.600', 'end': '104.159', 'text': 'needs to be self- sustaining. I have'}, {'start': '101.520', 'end': '107.040', 'text': 'moved some jobs around. I have had to'}, {'start': '104.159', 'end': '109.759', 'text': "let a couple employees go. We're hiring"}, {'start': '107.040', 'end': '112.720', 'text': "a few more. We're changing things around"}, {'start': '109.759', 'end': '115.200', 'text': "both on uh just what's best for the city"}, {'start': '112.720', 'end': '116.960', 'text': 'and the citizens that we represent.'}, {'start': '115.200', 'end': '119.360', 'text': 'Salem officials say thanks to these'}, {'start': '116.960', 'end': '121.119', 'text': 'limited practices, guidance from experts'}, {'start': '119.360', 'end': '124.320', 'text': 'in the field, and new transport'}, {'start': '121.119', 'end': '126.240', 'text': 'contracts, EMS is close to breaking even'}, {'start': '124.320', 'end': '129.520', 'text': '11 months after it was financially'}, {'start': '126.240', 'end': '131.599', 'text': 'underwater. Reporting in Salem, Baron 12'}, {'start': '129.520', 'end': '131.599', 'text': 'News.'}]