Cole County EMS looks forward to new uniforms

Cole County EMS will be sporting a new look as early as next week.

During Tuesday's Cole County Commission meeting, Jerry Johnston, director of Cole County Ambulance, said EMS will start wearing new shirts that look similar to the ones worn by law enforcement and firefighters, except these uniforms will be white and gray.

The white, two-pocket shirts will be worn by command staff. The rest of the staff will have an option between the gray polos they currently wear or gray two-pocket shirts.

Along with the new shirts, 34 badges were purchased at about $100 each. Johnston said this will be the first time Cole County EMS will have badges, which are gold-plated with the EMS emblem and logo.

The commission approved purchasing the badges during an earlier meeting.

Johnston said the new look will look more like EMS's public safety partners but still will make them stand out.

"We'll easily be recognized on scene, and we're not going to look like police and fire because we'll have different colors," he said. "It adds a little professionalism, and it gives us better visibility publicly and more credibility with the people we serve."

The new look will be funded by EMS's 2017 uniform budget.

Johnston said he hopes the staff can start wearing the new uniforms next week.

In other action Tuesday:

The county commission is working with Clear Basin - a computer software company - to adjust its contract. The contract is set to renew in October and extend for a year, but Cole County Assessor Chris Estes said the county is trying to adjust the contract to extend from October to March 2018. This is to give the county time to do a request for purchase and look at other software companies.

The commission approved a grant application for the Cole County Sheriff Department to purchase five bulletproof vests.

The commission approved an amendment to the Show Me Healthy Women contract so the organization can use money not spent this year toward next year. SMHW provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings for women who meet the insurance, income and age guidelines.