The Newton Fire Department is the latest local emergency medical service provider to join the Jasper County Emergency Medical Services Affiliation. The Newton City Council unanimously approved the affiliation agreement for the fire department this week. The Jasper County EMS Association and Jasper County Emergency Management Agency are working together to build the affiliation. They say it creates common protocols, technical data exchange, a central supply service, and a shared medical director position.

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors are funding the first year start-up costs associated with the affiliation. Those costs are anticipated to be about $60,000, which includes $40,000 for the setup of the central supply and inventory system, and $10,000 each for the medical director and development of the protocol app. Members of the Jasper County EMS Affiliation will determine how to pay for the ongoing costs after the initial year. Those annual operating costs are estimated to be $20,000. The medical director’s annual salary would be $10,000, while $7,500 is the anticipated cost for maintenance of the protocol app, and $2,500 is the yearly projected cost for inventory software.