Many Lawrence residents are upset over the shortage of paramedics and the impact it's having on ambulance service. Over the July 4th weekend, the city had just one ambulance in service.
Devon Ashcraft is one of the people who packed a hearing on the issue, Tuesday night.
"I'm angry, I'm horrified, I'm scared. I don't know what's going to happen next time I have to call 911," she said.
Ashcraft, a single mother of three, has a serious heart condition. She said since being diagnosed in 2007, she's called for an ambulance at least 20 times. She was especially angry to learn that over the July 4th weekend, Lawrence had just one ambulance on duty.
"There's a fire station less than two minutes from me and there's not an ambulance at the station because there's not enough staff," she said.
Republican Councilor Tom Shevlot said Lawrence has been losing EMTs and paramedics to other cities that pay more and it's caused a ripple effect.
"We're asking firefighters to staff ambulances, so we're creating a heavier workload on them and it's costing more money because we're having to pay overtime," he said.
Fire Chief Dino Batalis said it's also dangerous.
"Pulling firefighters off engines and ladders and going in with three people (versus the national standard of four) is not a safe environment for our firefighters," he said.
Several months ago, Batalis came up with a plan to give EMTs and paramedics a $2-an-hour raise, so they'd make $15.33 and $17.64 respectively.
"The $2 increase just gets us on same playing field," he said. "It's by no means higher than anyone else."
While two council committees initially signed off unanimously, when it came time for the full council vote, they nixed the plan, citing concerns over funding it.
Ashcraft said she's concerned, too, "because I don't know who will tell my children if something happens to me. It's, 'Sorry, mom died because they didn't have a budget.' It's sad, scary and ridiculous."
Councilor Rick Wells is the only Democrat who voted for the pay raise. He calls it "a no-brainer."
He said the controller has reassured him and others, "the city has the funds to do it and it's sustainable."
Wells said part of the funding would come from the increase in ambulance fees which the council approved in June.
He and Shevlot plan to introduce a new proposal a the council's next meeting in two weeks.
