OC asked to hire Five Full-Time First Responders

Oconee Emergency Services believes that during the times of day when the county’s pool of volunteer firefighters is at its lowest, the county would be better served with the hiring of five more, full-time firefighters or medical first responders. Oconee County Fire Chief Charlie King made the presentation Tuesday night to the council’s Budget Committee. Counting salaries, benefits, and other costs, the five would add $237,500 to the request of the emergency services department for the Fiscal Year 2018-19 Budget, which starts on July 1.