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City approves five‑year ambulance services agreement with Davidson Hansen Ambulance District
Summary
The council approved a five‑year agreement with the Davidson Hansen Ambulance District that shifts rural EMS operations to the district and schedules staffing and hiring steps; the city will begin interviews in September and certain service area boundaries east of 420 Fourth Avenue were clarified in the agreement.
The Mitchell City Council approved an agreement with the Davidson Hansen Ambulance District to provide rural emergency medical services under a five‑year contract with a 3% annual increase and two optional one‑year extensions.
City staff described the agreement as a cooperation that keeps the city responsible for staffing, training and equipment for municipal ambulance services while coordinating with the ambulance district for rural coverage. Staff said the contract anticipates service responsibilities east of 420 Fourth Avenue will change; those areas previously had options to transport patients to Sioux Falls and the agreement clarifies how those response decisions would be made in conjunction with battalion chief or lieutenant discretion and city policy.
City staff said hiring and onboarding of personnel will begin this fall, with interviews scheduled in September. Staff outlined a plan to conduct psych testing and provider physicals (15‑82 physicals) so new hires could begin field training early in the new year: a two‑week in‑house classroom followed by approximately eight weeks of field training per shift. Staff cautioned the city’s contingency budget status may affect the timing of pre‑employment testing and that the first budgeted funds will be available January 1 under the new levy schedule.
The council voted to approve the agreement; staff said there would be no immediate operational change to municipal ambulance staffing until hires and training are completed.
Ending
City staff said interviews will begin in September with the goal of onboarding new paramedics and beginning field training in early 2026 if budget conditions permit.
