[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,85,97],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",7296980,"mediaKeyId","2171534-9167dcf2b6a90261b6329817575e0991","parentId",2171534,"title","Wapello County supervisors vote to publish 60‑day notice to study declaring EMS an essential service","audioSeconds",1684,"startMs",249000,"endMs",1933000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171534-9167dcf2b6a90261b6329817575e0991&start=249&end=1933","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171534-9167dcf2b6a90261b6329817575e0991/thumbnail_249000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/7296980/Wapello-County/Iowa/Wapello-County-supervisors-vote-to-publish-60day-notice-to-study-declaring-EMS-an-essential-service","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/7296980-c7ad8d79dc9bc7cbb21fd4e60b2973d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775172197&Signature=Etfy2sNm31uiejGzoYVETN0yl~1knaCgsnldycF7UF5IFo-L~E~4N3~~h~JVeU2~8hTqUMdltyW8OWVycI2iQh3uyI4XuIWatOZ7zR69q7aBSVcrsiSCj-KM5XsAvNorwT0cPIwW1BzgmepkCHJVsTPFL~N9Ka0K16j1lyIKZfQ6tk7W8hgNVeHvXVtn~6g09g-3CVBfODEKj9EZz4Az~msM2-VyIDQLYheeFQ~PDI5bzeWphhUG0Y8JbHUDZJI7n6rCxfocpfeR-D0T350MwzeLpUwJmNOtCuUIErS~N5HioEUe7QkBxIcXQLdZdJVQteSKY2rR7sDxVOfd92AzvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wapello County","date","2025-01-29T05:06:47.583Z","article","Wapello County Board of Supervisors voted to publish a 60‑day public notice and schedule a first reading on a resolution to declare emergency medical services an essential county service and to create an advisory council to study system options.

The action followed a multi‑decade history and data presentation by Tim, a meeting presenter, who reviewed how local ambulance services evolved, outlined recent staffing shortages and call volumes, and said the advisory council would ‘‘study the needs and develop a comprehensive system, recommend a structure and associated costs of what that will look like back to the board.’’

Tim told the board that, under current Iowa law, counties are not automatically required to provide EMS the way they are for police and fire. ‘‘The short answer is nothing,’’ he said. ‘‘Most people are not aware that EMS as a service, as a public service, is absolutely not required by Iowa code like fire service and police service.’’ He said a recent change in state law (referenced in the meeting as Iowa Code 422D) allows counties to declare EMS an essential service, create a local advisory structure, study options and — if appropriate — seek voter funding.

Why it matters: Tim presented five years of Wapello County response data showing roughly 4,700–5,000 calls per year countywide. He said 70–80% of calls typically require basic care and 20–30% require paramedic‑level care, and that in 2024 the breakdown of call types was roughly 64% medical, 20% trauma, 12% transfers and 2% lift assists. He described workforce pressures from the COVID‑era staffing crunch, accelerated retirements and regional competition for EMTs and paramedics.

Board action and next steps: Supervisors moved, seconded and voted in favor of publishing the required 60‑day notice announcing the resolution will receive its first reading at the board’s April 8 meeting. The published notice will include the full text of the resolution. The advisory council created by the resolution — if adopted after the public process — would be tasked to research countywide system options, estimate costs and recommend whether to ask voters for funding or pursue alternative solutions.

History and context presented: Tim summarized local milestones dating to the 1940s, including funeral homes’ historical role in patient transport, the 1966 Accidental Death and Disability (the “EMS White Paper”) that helped national standardization of prehospital care, state and federal developments that shaped ambulance service, and multiple local transfers of ambulance administration between city, county and hospitals. He said that in recent years regionwide subsidy declines, the end of federal revenue sharing, and the pandemic’s workforce impacts prompted local services to request assistance in 2022.

Community impact and constraints: Tim told supervisors that any county action must account for limited shared resources across municipalities and that one jurisdiction’s change can affect surrounding providers. He said the advisory council would make recommendations but that funding decisions — including any ballot question — would come back to the board after the council’s study.

Votes at a glance (other routine actions taken at the same meeting)
- Motion to approve the meeting agenda — approved by voice vote.
- Motion to approve minutes of the Jan. 14 meeting — approved by voice vote.
- Resolution 5‑2025 (utility values for 2024, listed by entity including Burlington Northern Railroad and power companies) — approved by voice vote.
- Donation request: First Presbyterian Church, $5,000 for food boxes — approved by voice vote.
- Contract/service approvals: cost advisory services for fiscal year 2024 from DHS — approved.
- Liquor license: Elliott Oil, Highway 63 South (BP) — approved.
- Resolution 1‑2025 (abate property taxes for city of Ottumwa, referenced to Iowa Code section 445.63 in the meeting) — approved.
- Guardian RFID agreement (sheriff’s office) — approved; sheriff’s office representative explained electronic tracking will support medication handling and inmate headcounts.
- Personnel actions: payroll approval (deputy auditor promotion), new hire approvals (correctional officer, deputy sheriff) — approved.
- Routine reports: 2nd quarter fees collected by the sheriff’s office — accepted.
- Motion to adjourn and transition to a work session on 911 tower placement — approved.

What the board did not decide today: The board did not adopt a final policy or levy. The action approved was to publish the 60‑day notice and proceed to a public first reading on April 8; the advisory council is to research options and return recommendations to the board before any funding request or ordinance would be adopted.

The board indicated the public process and advisory council work will define the scope, costs and any subsequent ballot measures. The first procedural milestone is the 60‑day notice publication; the resolution is scheduled for first reading April 8.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Supervisors","oneSentenceSummary","After a detailed presentation on the local history and current strain on emergency medical services, the Wapello County Board of Supervisors voted to publish a 60‑day notice and advance a resolution for first reading that would create an advisory council to study making EMS an essential county service.","taxTitle","Wapello County, Iowa","taxId",68477,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":44,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":50,"_51":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":83,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":84,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6702321,"Wapello County supervisors direct 60-day notice on declaring EMS an essential service",1676,1925000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171534-9167dcf2b6a90261b6329817575e0991&start=249&end=1925","/articles/6702321/Wapello-County/Iowa/Wapello-County-supervisors-direct-60-day-notice-on-declaring-EMS-an-essential-service","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6702321-b99615bfa00630bac13f550f6b010124/orig.mp4?Expires=1775172197&Signature=bnZ33Ixkc3gQ-y8nf~gSPThNVAayQipP8WRWZewPpInAVplOpx0Ec9oam3SI4Q8TcZXDRKMG6nUQWUnjFxoC-2FwC-1jYECm82arDWDpk5J3TX~siul3TLK4dAP858APgpHVbJKfie~7UW7U-~~Bq3K5ilWeiDmPa0Nq1GYRwt36PCLny9pPCvT-FXmXVAvGCK6F--Ms-4dl78-5qISM5ZIQpO8LIKqHjzaXEGxrb1DKmOj9amYN5tvj-SgMYaDiFgPx2AN8D1e4DQ4h0kngUPp4XfmU6SU3OLabtpnGOScMuawAhilomBSneW1FZx7SmSvbkNceenDnWtC24GNPfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wapello County supervisors voted to publish a 60-day public notice that the board will consider a resolution declaring emergency medical services (EMS) an essential county service, and to create an advisory council to study the countywide EMS system and funding.

The vote followed a presentation by Tim, who gave a historical overview of local ambulance and EMS services and summarized recent staffing and funding pressures that county providers have reported. The motion to publish the notice — which sets the resolution’s first reading for April 8 — passed by voice vote.

The resolution would not itself adopt a funding mechanism. Instead, the advisory council authorized by the resolution would study system needs, recommend a structure and associated costs, and report back to the board so supervisors can decide whether to pursue voter funding or other options. Tim told supervisors the enabling state law recently was changed to allow counties to declare EMS essential and to study funding and structure locally.

In his presentation, Tim traced the county’s ambulance history from funeral-home transports in the 1940s to a countywide service begun in 1974, through changes in hospital partnerships and federal funding that have affected local subsidies. He told the board that local call volume has been roughly steady in recent years and quoted county EMS data described in the meeting as “between 4705000 calls annually.” He said 64% of 2024 calls were medical in nature, about 20% trauma, 12% transfers and 2% lift assists, and that 70%–80% of calls typically require basic-level care while 20%–30% require paramedic-level care.

Tim said workforce challenges — including pandemic-era attrition, retirements and competitive pay pressures — have strained service capacity. He described several local responses: a four-county summer EMT internship program to recruit youth; pay increases and sign-on bonuses in neighboring services; and partnerships with Indian Hills Community College for training. He also noted state EMS system standards (updated 2017) are used as a regular assessment rubric and that system-level reporting flows to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

Board members did not debate alternate funding paths in the meeting; the immediate action was to authorize publication of notice and schedule the first reading. Supervisor (mover) made the motion to publish the 60-day notice and Supervisor (Chair) seconded it; the chair called for the voice vote and the ayes carried.

The advisory council’s size, membership and duties would be set by the board if the resolution proceeds; the council’s initial role, as described in the presentation, is research and recommendation rather than direct authority to levy funds. The board directed staff to publish the 60-day notice and place the resolution on the April 8 agenda for first reading.","After a 25-minute historical briefing on local emergency medical services, supervisors voted to publish a 60-day notice that the board will consider a resolution to declare emergency medical services essential and create an advisory council to study countywide EMS structure and costs.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":92,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6702317,"Wapello County supervisors approve routine agenda items, licenses and payroll; publication set for EMS resolution",238,2098000,2336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171534-9167dcf2b6a90261b6329817575e0991&start=2098&end=2336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171534-9167dcf2b6a90261b6329817575e0991/thumbnail_2098000.jpg","/articles/6702317/Wapello-County/Iowa/Wapello-County-supervisors-approve-routine-agenda-items-licenses-and-payroll-publication-set-for-EMS-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6702317-93112bdb60bc4367800f2d80039f769c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775172197&Signature=SfvRTsn5ChQxF-mmfJjPKUMa6-y6KmOEdnHCouEPHF5KmX1KPPtzB7g8pXgd7UwhqSaMnwB1E~0qDWmErOz9k3XWCz~ukWeH8OQh7i53tUOOtlepH7gNhbw1SwtM6QEdu9N~LBrOTLbyjVaIpn7xsNiSXTziw8B6AKxZnFe7Oe7X2nW5Bvyy16svBiVvIqz9UvN2DAvEMcAHmNelsbWQV3lVTfABTlN4zZgtNj~ehyBj29~I4uW7a6MKtOVZ49YsnfoX9bwSY7kYYPh6xj4fG5x-XCyuGS9~C94ccoQ-efnRDjHc3OJMiZopeWURttx7lrombSrVFVGBqLY-U5KguQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wapello County Board of Supervisors approved a series of routine agenda items and administrative actions during the meeting.

By voice vote, supervisors approved the meeting agenda and minutes of the Jan. 14 meeting. They approved Resolution 5-2025 (utility values for 2024, listed by entity), a $5,000 donation request from First Presbyterian Church for food boxes, a liquor license application for Elliott Oil (Highway 63 South BP), and Resolution 1-2025 abating certain property taxes for the City of Ottumwa under applicable tax code provisions. The board also approved an agreement for the sheriff’s office with Guardian RFID (security/monitoring technology for the jail) and accepted the sheriff’s second-quarter collected fees report.

Personnel and payroll items approved included promotion to fill a payroll position in the auditor’s office, hires for a correctional officer and a deputy sheriff, and other standard personnel motions. The board approved an audit/cost-advisory services engagement for fiscal year 2024 and routine contract or procurement items discussed on the consent agenda.

All motions listed below passed by voice vote unless otherwise noted in the transcript.","In addition to setting public notice on EMS, the board approved the agenda, minutes, multiple routine agreements, a $5,000 donation request, liquor license, tax-abatement resolution and several personnel hires.",{"_33":98,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":99,"_41":100,"_43":101,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6694518,"Wapello County board votes to publish 60-day notice on declaring EMS an essential service",1667,226000,1893000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171534-9167dcf2b6a90261b6329817575e0991&start=226&end=1893","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171534-9167dcf2b6a90261b6329817575e0991/thumbnail_226000.jpg","/articles/6694518/Wapello-County/Iowa/Wapello-County-board-votes-to-publish-60-day-notice-on-declaring-EMS-an-essential-service","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6694518-a05e69baf4e5e367aa30d070e7da2ee7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775172197&Signature=S6tkcucUpwGWjW8WY1o2le3W3ZZ1BtPS7xxvF20PxV-WB1b7JzmFQ6C8qfjfLZjRZofQPspAYSK5ka7N2RPXbtslP6YIENVHI6KY7wm0Ow7PuVcvBjwPkAydF7B6Yuw6Oh9TTv~5mpax-4ixXjULKpvxz6i9HRADAzYXa5ECmfNQNU7fWwZL9ROvHbHbSDwJwrdb8F1yeipssUIjjKiF354dCdJmVBtewtIqh1hvK47u27nx8G87AZmDvOI6laSfgr6cS7EpIWmeTryUS8bBzYkc~BLnn0t57VsgP8Epc-64JnWIwZeECTu2q66bLAAOD68vZZipVWsNnmj4eFE0vA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wapello County supervisors voted unanimously by voice to publish a 60-day public notice and schedule a first reading on April 8 for a resolution that would declare emergency medical services (EMS) an essential service and create an advisory council to study the county’s EMS needs.

County staff member Tim, who presented a historical overview and the rationale for the resolution, told the board that declaring EMS essential would allow the county to study system options, estimate costs and — if necessary — ask voters for funding. \"The short answer is nothing. Most people are not aware that EMS as a service, as a public service, is absolutely not required by Iowa code,\" Tim said, describing the county’s limited statutory authority and the role the advisory council would play.

Tim reviewed national and local developments that shaped modern EMS, including the 1966 report Accidental Death and Disability (the “White Paper”), the federal EMS Systems Act of 1973 and later state EMS system standards. He described decades of local funding challenges — from funeral-home transport in the 1940s to repeated subsidy arrangements and tax-levy proposals in the 1970s and 1980s — and said recent pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic, staffing losses and rising costs prompted renewed requests for local assistance from local ambulance operators.

The presenter provided operational context: the county’s ambulance service responds primarily to medical and trauma calls, plus a portion of interfacility transfers. He summarized workforce and recruitment steps the county and partners have tried, including a multi-county summer EMT internship program, pay adjustments and partnerships with Indian Hills Community College to build a pipeline of EMS workers.

Under the resolution the board approved to publish for 60 days, the advisory council would be an advisory research arm to the board: it would study system structure, meet standards, estimate costs, propose a governance structure and recommend whether to seek voter funding or take other steps. \"The advisory council will study the needs and develop a comprehensive system, recommend a structure and associated costs of what that will look like back to the board,\" Tim said.

At the meeting staff indicated the notice will inform the public that the resolution is scheduled for a first reading on April 8. The motion to publish the 60-day notice was made and seconded and approved by voice vote; no roll-call counts were provided in the transcript.

Votes at a glance (routine business passed by the board at this meeting):
- Motion to approve the agenda — approved by voice vote.
- Motion to approve minutes of the Jan. 14 meeting — approved by voice vote.
- Resolution 5-2025 (utility values for 2024) — approved by voice vote.
- Request from First Presbyterian Church for $5,000 donation for food boxes — approved by voice vote.
- Liquor license for Elliott Oil (Highway 63 South BP) — approved by voice vote.
- Resolution 1-2025 to abate property taxes for City of Ottumwa (per transcript reference to Iowa Code section) — approved by voice vote.
- Guardian RFID agreement for the sheriff’s office — approved by voice vote.
- Multiple personnel and payroll items (new hires, promotions) — approved by voice votes.

All of the above motions were recorded in the meeting transcript as approved by voice; the transcript did not report individual roll-call tallies. The board set the April 8 meeting as the date for the resolution’s first reading after the 60-day notice period.

Background and next steps: Declaring EMS essential does not itself create a new tax. According to the presentation, the declaration would enable the advisory council to develop options and estimated costs and then return to the board with recommendations that could include asking voters for funding. The advisory council’s scope and any ongoing duties will depend on board direction and the council’s findings. The board directed staff to publish the required notice and will consider the resolution at a first reading on April 8.","The Wapello County Board of Supervisors voted to publish a 60-day notice and schedule a first reading on a resolution that would create an advisory council to study and recommend a countywide emergency medical services system and potential funding options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Wapello County supervisors vote to publish 60‑day notice to study declaring EMS an essential service

Wapello County supervisors direct 60-day notice on declaring EMS an essential service

Wapello County supervisors approve routine agenda items, licenses and payroll; publication set for EMS resolution

Wapello County board votes to publish 60-day notice on declaring EMS an essential service