By Dee Grenert Staff Writer
CULVER — The Culver Town Council took preliminary steps toward altering the payment of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) volunteers April 10.
EMS Director Chuck Dilts proposed, and the board supported, a pair of significant changes to EMS volunteers’ salaries during the council’s regular meeting at Culver Town Hall.
According to Dilts, volunteers currently collect run and shift pay twice a year. Under the restructured plan, volunteers would be given a stipend for each 12-hour shift — $25 for full members, $15 for members in training and $10 for backup calls – and receive a monthly payment.
“There are two reasons for the change,” Dilts explained. “First, I think we can save a little money. Second, if you pay the volunteers on a monthly basis, we hope it will be an incentive for the volunteers to pull more shifts.”

Clerk-Treasurer Casey Howard noted that three volunteers have approached her about the possibility of monthly payments during her term. Council member Sally Ricciardi, an EMS veteran herself, voiced approval for once-a-month checks.
“There are people who don’t make enough money in their jobs,” she commented. “They can use this money each month to help pay their water bill or buy gas for their car.”
Town Manager Jon Guenin also offered his support.
“I think this change will only help,” Guenin said. “It consistently gives people money for pulling shifts. From a labor standpoint, it’s more defensible.”
A formal vote to change the EMS salary procedure is planned for the April 24 meeting. The council, which modified eligibility requirements for matching funds from the town’s sidewalk program on March 13, further clarified the program’s language.
The board previously closed matching funds to new construction and substantial changes to structures. Led by members Barbara Behnke and Lynn Overmyer, the council agreed to define the addition of square footage to a structure as substantial.
In other action:
President Ed Pinder and members Ralph Winters, Ricciardi, Overmyer and Behnke unanimously passed the first reading of an ordinance to amend Planned Unit Development (PUD) requirements. The council voted 5-0 to pass the first reading of an ordinance to allow the issuance of temporary occupancy permits.