Beresford council praises longtime EMS volunteer, discusses volunteer shortfall and potential regional EMS hub funding
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Summary
After honoring Denise Gersman for roughly 28 years on the ambulance service, the council discussed trouble recruiting volunteers and flagged state rural health funds from House Bill 1 as a possible source to develop a regional EMS hub and potentially a full-time ambulance presence in Beresford.
The City of Beresford recognized Denise Gersman for three decades of service on the local ambulance crew and turned a broader portion of its meeting to the difficulty of recruiting and retaining EMS volunteers.
Council members said Gersman has been on the ambulance service roughly 28 years and estimated she averages about 130 calls a year. Speakers and staff described volunteer EMS as a “critical” public-safety function and said the city intends to bolster recruitment through in-person training, regional cooperation and outreach.
Why it matters: Council members said small towns are seeing declines in volunteerism since the COVID pandemic and that sustaining local emergency medical service depends on replenishing volunteers or moving toward alternative staffing models. The council noted a state allocation within House Bill 1 that sets aside funds for rural health; officials said they will monitor the legislation for opportunities to build regional EMS hubs.
At the meeting the council discussed plans to host an in-person EMS training class with neighboring Centerville and Alcester and to use city channels to publicize the opportunity. Council members said an in-person class is essential because much of EMS training is difficult to do virtually.
Council members also raised a longer-term option: using state rural health funding to develop a regional EMS hub with a staffed ambulance and station facilities similar to a Sioux Falls fire station, with sleeping quarters and meal space. No funding was committed at the meeting; members said they would follow the legislative process. The council referenced a tax-district model used by an ambulance service in Lennox as one example of a funding mechanism but noted questions remain about district boundaries and response responsibilities.
The council did not take formal action on station upgrades or districting at the meeting. Staff said they will pursue state grant opportunities, coordinate with regional partners and return with more information if a concrete funding or organizational proposal develops.
Ending: Council members thanked Gersman for her service and said the city will pursue near-term steps — training, outreach and grant monitoring — while planning longer-term options should volunteer ranks continue to decline.
