Tumwater renewing contract with Thurston County Medic One 

The Tumwater City Council backed a contract that calls for Thurston County Medic One to continue to provide paramedic services for the next three years.

The city council authorized Mayor Debbie Sullivan to sign the new contract at a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21. 

Medic One provides countywide emergency medical services through eight paramedic units. 

Its current agreement with the city expires at the end of the year, so the renewed contract extends the arrangement through the end of 2028. 

Under the agreement, the county reimburses the city for 80% of the salaries and benefits for two Tumwater-based paramedic units and 89% of costs for staffing Medic 14, a unit based in Rochester. 

The renewed contract does not change the funding formula for salaries and benefits, but it does increase several other forms of support, according to a briefing by Tumwater Fire Department Chief Brian Hurley. 

The county will now reimburse the city $32,400 annually for the space used by paramedics in the city’s fire stations. That includes offices, dorms, storage and communal spaces, such as kitchens, bathrooms and living areas. 

The agreement also boosts support for paramedic training.

Hurley said Medic One supports a program that allows firefighters to attend paramedic school. The county supports the training of up to two Tumwater firefighters and reimburses the city for the hours they spent on training. Under the new contract, the county will reimburse $75,000 for each trainee, up from $50,000. 

The new contract also supports the funding of a future position dedicated to training. It also continues funding for an officer who oversees the program, as well as supplies and equipment for the paramedic units.