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Residents, town leaders press Allegany County to restore Georges Creek ambulance service
Summary
Dozens of residents and municipal officials urged Allegany County commissioners to restore EMS staffing out of the Georges Creek station, citing delayed response times, structural and financial questions about the station, and an urgent risk to public safety. County staff said inspections revealed sprinkler and structural issues and estimated repair liabilities before staff can be assigned.
Dozens of residents, municipal officials and health-care representatives urged Allegany County commissioners on Thursday to move faster to restore ambulance service based in the Georges Creek area, saying longer response times are putting lives at risk.
Craig Alexander, identified in the meeting as an administrator for the town of Midland, said he has worked in emergency services for 50 years and implored the county to "honor what you said you would do" by basing an ambulance and crew at the former Georges Creek station. He said news of outstanding debts and structural concerns raised in county communications left residents worried county officials were backing away from that commitment.
County staff member Mister Bennett told the board the county did authorize due diligence in August and that staff have inspected the building and engaged the fire marshal after finding "a handful of structural concerns" and major problems with the sprinkler system; he said the county has not received the fire marshal's final report. Bennett estimated about $100,000 in structural repairs, noted a roughly $70,000 lien tied to the sprinkler contractor and said there were approximately $200,000 in liabilities related to ambulances stored at the site. He emphasized that no one has refused the project and that commissioners had previously allocated budget to support operations, but that staff must resolve safety and financial issues before placing county-paid personnel there.
Public commenters described several recent incidents they say illustrate the danger of delayed responses. Mayor Bobby Ritchie and other residents gave multiple examples of 15–17 minute response times for medical calls and said they had instances where ambulances were diverted or unstaffed. Representatives from a local nursing home said waits had at times approached 40 minutes, stressing that many residents on site are vulnerable and rely on rapid EMS access.
Several speakers challenged the county’s apparent reliance on the station’s sprinkler system as a prerequisite for staffing, noting other county stations operate without sprinklers and asking whether less onerous interim measures could be used. Bennett replied that the fire marshal had identified specific concerns, and that the county needed to ensure code-compliant, safe facilities before assigning staff and county payroll.
Commissioners acknowledged the public urgency and pledged continued work on the issue. One commissioner said he had given his word to resolve the matter and that staff were pushing the fire marshal for timely reports. Commissioners also described continuing phone and email contact with town officials and said they would return to the issue after the outstanding inspections and financial clarifications are completed.
The board did not adopt a new formal deadline at the meeting; commissioners said they would continue the due-diligence process and follow up with town leaders and rescue squad stakeholders.
