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Resident urges council to address ambulance coverage after delayed response to mother’s call
Summary
A Columbiana resident told council that ambulance service delays have left his mother waiting more than an hour for transport; council and staff said the issue is under review and encouraged the resident to speak with EMS supervision.
A Columbiana resident told the City Council on Oct. 21 that local emergency medical services have failed to respond to several calls at his family’s home and described a recent medically serious delay in transporting his mother to the hospital.
John Blankenship, who identified his address as 48 Old 14 Road, said his mother lives at 225 French Street and that Columbiana EMS did not respond to four of the calls in the past five years. He told the council that a recent call to Saint Mary’s began about 7:28 p.m.; he later asked hospital staff at about 7:58 p.m. where the ambulance was, called dispatch at 8:10 p.m. and said the ambulance arrived at 8:53 p.m. He said a social-media post indicated there had been 369 calls this year when no crew from Columbiana was available.
"I don't know about you guys, but if that was your loved one, how would you feel?" Blankenship told the council. He said he was not there to criticize personnel and recommended stronger leadership and 24-hour staffing to improve local availability.
Council members and staff responded that the issue is being discussed. The mayor and other members said the city has discussed EMS needs in budget conversations, including the possibility of an EMS levy; city staff reported they are talking with Tom Farley, the city’s EMS supervisor, about future needs. The city manager, Lance, told the resident he would follow up and said he was available to speak when back in the office.
Why it matters: Residents rely on timely ambulance response for medical emergencies. The resident described a delay of roughly an hour on a recent call and told the council he believes local coverage is inconsistent; the council and staff said they are aware of service pressures and are reviewing options.
What was said and next steps
- Complainant: John Blankenship (resident of 48 Old 14 Road) described multiple missed responses over 10 years and a specific transport delay on a recent evening. He noted that EMT units from other nearby jurisdictions (he cited Salem and East Palestine) were involved in responses.
- Council response: The mayor and other council members said the council recognizes EMS is a concern, that it is not being ignored, and that actions are being considered. Officials referenced past budget discussions about an EMS levy.
- Staff follow-up: City staff said they are in contact with Tom Farley, the EMS supervisor, and the city manager agreed to speak with the resident to collect more details. No formal council motion or directive was recorded at the meeting; the matter remained a topic for staff-level follow-up and future budget consideration.
Limitations and context
Blankenship supplied specific clock times during his account; the council’s comments noted the matter is under review but did not record new formal action, funding decisions or staffing changes during the meeting. The transcript contains the resident’s reported times and the council’s assurances that staff would follow up.
