MERCER TWP — Township supervisors are looking for ways to mitigate the impact of emergency medical services shortages.

In a letter sent to Butler County Commissioners, the township board of supervisors argued for the inclusion of out-of-county EMS providers in a Butler County paramedic program.

“It has come to our attention that the above referenced program has raised some serious questions about eligibility, particularly affecting northern municipalities,” the letter read. “While we lack the equal numbers of population that the southern municipalities have, we certainly are not lacking in the need for quality EMS providers.”

The county’s paramedic training program is a partnership between the county and Butler County Community College, which helps train those interested in becoming paramedics for free through grant funding. After an eight-week academy session, participants commit to one year of service with an EMS agency within the county while receiving a stipend.

Coverage of Mercer Township is currently serviced by Superior Ambulance, based out of Grove City in Mercer County.

“Superior is within seeing distance of the Mercer County sign, on Route 58. They cover Marion Township, Mercer Township, Harrisville Borough, Boyers, and they provide assistance to Slippery Rock, to Emlenton, they’re in Butler County quite a bit,” Supervisor John Bennett, Jr. said.

Butler County’s paramedic program does not include anyone from out of county. Bennett said Superior Ambulance had contacted Mercer Township and several other local municipalities about this. Meanwhile, the board of supervisors reached out to the county commissioners expressing their desire for potential paramedics from out-of-county to be included.

“When we’re up here, we have Venango on our north border. We have Mercer on our west border. We have to depend on agencies from other counties when we’re right on the county line, three miles in each direction. All we’re asking is to work with us,” Bennett said.

Nikki Ciochetto, Mercer Township’s secretary and treasurer, said the compromises the township has proposed include a partial scholarship rather than a full scholarship for those who commit to an out-of-county agency.

“This solution will help continue to provide EMS services to the Butler County taxpayers. Mercer Township enacted the EMS tax several years ago to help solve the current crisis. We are now asking you to consider a solution to help us out,” the letter said.

Underfunding, low wages and high demand have let to shortages, causing various efforts around the state to try to push more residents toward becoming EMTs.

“There’s a big push across the state of Pennsylvania for EMTs, for paramedics, because there’s such a shortage. The pay is terrible and no one can raise a family or anything like that, especially in these rural areas, so they’re trying to do everything they can,” Bennett said. “But when you put a restriction on it like that, it makes it difficult. ”