Crossville considers city-run ambulance service after residents and medical director press need; council to vote next week

Crossville City Council moved discussion of a proposal to establish a city-operated ambulance service to next week’s voting session after public comment, medical testimony and a finance briefing highlighted both potential lifesaving benefits and substantial budget shortfalls.

Resident Mickie Eldridge urged the council to approve a city ambulance based in the fire department, saying long waits and occasional equipment failures had endangered her family. “It was important to our family that we needed an ambulance to get her there,” Eldridge said, describing multiple episodes in which lack of available transport delayed care. “I just want you to know it matters to me as a taxpayer. We need city ambulance service badly.”

The council heard a medical overview from Jim Wojak, identified as the medical director for local emergency medical services and city fire/EMS, who described training and continuing education in the local system. “Every one of our personnel with C.C.E.M.S. has obtained over 100 hours of CME in 2024,” Wojak said, and he described recent awards the EMS system and personnel…