Task force asks Crawford County supervisors to start process to declare EMS an essential county service

An EMS task force presented to the Crawford County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 12, asking the board to begin the public‑meeting process required to declare Emergency Medical Services (EMS) an "essential service" under state law.

The presenter said the task force surveyed county EMS providers and hospitals and reviewed other Iowa counties’ approaches; in the packet the group included a reference to the Iowa code cited in the presentation as "4 22 d." The task force recommended starting the mandated three‑meeting process so voters could decide whether to establish a county‑run EMS system and levy funds to support paid personnel, equipment and training. The group said 21 counties already had declared EMS essential and three more passed similar measures this year.

Why it matters: The task force said making EMS an essential county service would provide a stable revenue source (the presentation noted a statutory levy limit of up to $0.75 per $1,000) to fund salaries, continuing education, capital purchases and replacement ambulances on a schedule (one ambulance about every five years). Presenters said the move is intended to preserve volunteer responders’ roles while creating consistent staffing and staged response locations to reduce response times countywide.

Local EMS officials and volunteers who spoke at the meeting described current gaps. A Westside EMS director and other local first responders said some towns currently contract with neighboring counties for ambulance transport and that volunteers often provide the first on‑scene care; the task force argued a county model could supplement volunteers with county personnel and staged vehicles so care arrives faster across rural areas.

Board members asked practical questions about the hospital’s role and transition logistics. Presenters said the county model would be run by the county (not the hospital) but that the county could contract with Crawford County Memorial Hospital (CCMH) for transports or other services. The task force added that declaring EMS essential and establishing a county advisory council would launch community town halls, public education and proposed ballot language for the 2026 election cycle.

Timeline and next steps: Presenters said Iowa law requires three public meetings with public notice (the first meeting must be posted at least 60 days before the subsequent meeting) before the board may pass a resolution to put essential‑service language on the ballot; the task force recommended scheduling the first meeting within 60 days. The presenters said ballot approval requires a 60% supermajority in the county and encouraged early outreach and budget modeling for the public hearings.

No formal resolution or vote was taken at the Nov. 12 meeting; supervisors directed staff to place the item on a future agenda and begin the public‑meeting schedule so the timeline can align with a potential November 2026 ballot measure.

Ending: The board thanked the task force and volunteers for the presentation and indicated the county would move to set a date for the required notices and hearings.