Consultants recommend single countywide EMS operated by Park City Fire; council, chiefs and mayors debate coverage and costs

Summit County Council on May 31 heard the final emergency medical services assessment from Safetec Solutions, which recommended a single, countywide ambulance system governed and funded by the county and administered by an experienced provider — Safetec named Park City Fire Department as a likely operator. Safetec said a dynamically deployed fleet of seven ambulances, plus data‑driven governance and a readiness subsidy, would produce a reliable, equitable county system.

"Model 1, the model that we're recommending, a single EMS system across Summit County meets that criteria of sustainable, of reliable, of long term viable, as well as providing an equitable service to all," Safetec owner Aaron Reinert said during the presentation.

Safetec detailed its financial pro forma and said an ambulance's full ‘‘sticker price’’ can be substantially higher than commonly cited per‑unit operating figures when administrative infrastructure is included. Consultant Ben Wazmond summarized the firm’s range: "A BLS ambulance is usually between $500,000 and $750,000 a year. An ALS or paramedic level ambulance can be between…